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BX9225  .A37  1870  v.l 
Alexander,  Henry  Carrington, 
1835-1894.   Life  of 
Joseph  Addison  Alexander 


/o  .  •"-"- 


THE  LIFE 


OF 


/ 


JOSEPH  ADDISON  ALEXANDER, D.D. 


JUST         PUBLISHED. 

LIFE   OF  J.  ADDISON   ALEXANDER,   D.D., 

Br 
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: 


I. 


■Z^c^c  <<£.£<-. 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


JOSEPH  ADDISON  ALEXANDER,  D.D.. 


PROFESSOR   IN    THE    THEOLOGICAL    SEMINARY   AT   PRINCETON,  NEW   JERSEY. 


BY 


HENRY  CARRINGTON  ALEXANDER. 


VOLUME  I. 


LIBRARY  OF  FR!^CETCN 


JUL    1  1 


THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


NEW  YORK: 

CHARLES   SCRIB2JER  &  COMPANY. 

1870. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S69, 

By  CHARLES  SCRIBNER  &  CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Southern  District  of  New  York. 


PREFACE. 


I  shall  make  no  apology  for  writing  the  Life  of 
Joseph  Addison  Alexander.  If  the  facts  recorded  in 
these  volumes  be  not  a  sufficient  justification,  there  could 
be  no  other.  Why  the  duty  has  been  devolved  on  his 
nephew  rather  than  upon  some  one  else,  is  a  question 
which  need  not  be  discussed  here.  It  is  enough  to  say 
that  the  work  was  undertaken  not  at  his  own  instance 
but  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  surviving  mem- 
bers of  the  family. 

The  task,  though  a  grateful,  has  been  an  arduous  one. 
The  thing  aimed  at  has  been  not  so  much  any  mere  lite- 
rary excellence  as  an  array  of  competent  and  incontro- 
vertible testimony.  The  career  of  a  quiet  student  affords 
small  material  in  the  way  of  biographic  incident,  but  it  is 
hoped  that  the  remarkable  private  and  domestic  character, 
and  personal  traits  and  idiosyncrasies,  of  the  subject  of  these 
memoirs,  have  not  been  lost  sight  of  in  the  attempt  to  por- 
tray his  life  as  a  recluse  scholar,  as  a  teacher,  as  a  minister 
of  the  Word,  and  as  an  author. 

The  present  biographer  is  indebted  to  so  many  sources, 
and  especially  to  so  many  individual  friends,  for  much  of 
the  substance  of  his  narrative  as  well  as  for  much  that  is 
valuable  and  entertaining  in  the  way  of  criticism,  descrip- 
tion, and  illustrative  remark  and  anecdote,  that  he  finds 
himself  unable  to  make  particular  acknowledgments  to 
them  all,  or  even  to  cite  every  one  of  his  authorities  by 
name.  In  most  cases  he  has  done  so,  in  the  body  of  the 
two   volumes  which  are  now  respectfully  offered  to   the 


VI  PEEFACE. 

candid  judgment  of  his  readers.  "Where  nothing  is  said  to 
the  contrary,  it  will  he  right  to  infer  that  any  matter  in- 
corporated in  the  words  of  another  was  contributed  origin- 
ally to  this  work.  Sometimes  the  language  is  much  stronger 
than  he  should  have  dared  to  use  himself,  but  is  retained  as 
showing  his  uncle's  rare  gift  of  inspiring  his  pupils  with 
enthusiastic,  if  extravagant,  admiration. 

To  the  rule  of  making  no  specific  acknowledgments  ©f 
personal  obligation  in  the  Preface,  there  must,  however, 
be  one  signal  exception ;  and  that  is  in  the  case  of  a  sur- 
viving brother  of  the  deceased,  and  the  editor  of  several  of 
his  posthumous  volumes,  the  Kev.  Samuel  D.  Alexander, 
D.  D.,  of  Xew  York.  Indeed  so  large  and  important  has 
been  Dr.  Alexander's  share  in  these  labours,  that  it  is  only 
because  of  his  earnest  protestation,  and  inflexible  purpose 
to  the  contrary,  that  his  name  is  not  associated  with  that 
of  the  nominal  author  upon  the  title-page.  The  first  rough 
draught  of  the  narrative  was  prepared  by  him,  from  the 
journals  of  his  lamented  brother,  and  his  subsequent  toils 
and  efforts  bearing  in  one  way  or  other  upon  the  book  as 
it  is  now  presented,  have  been  excessive  and  invaluable. 
I  may  add  that  the  reader  will  not  stray  far  from  the  truth, 
if  he  will  bear  in  mind  that  while  we  have  both  worked  in 
the  quarry  and  upon  the  block,  the  work  of  my  relative 
and  coadjutor  has  been  mainly  though  by  no  means  exclu- 
sively in  the  quarry,  and  my  own  principally  upon  the 
block,  though  also  very  extensively  in  the  quarry.  Each 
of  us  has  exercised  the  powers  of  the  veto  and  of  elimina- 
tion, though  the  present  writer  has  reserved  to  himself  the 
power  of  decisive  choice  in  the  few  cases  where  there  has 
been  a  fixed  difference  of  opinion  between  us.  "Where  the 
opinions  of  the  subject  of  this  memoir  are  given  without 
comment,  it  is  not  to  be  taken  for  granted  that  they  are 
also  those  of  his  biographer. 

We  have  discovered  with  regret  that  many  errors  have 


PREFACE.  Vll 

crept  into  the  printing  that  could  not  be  indicated  within 
the  ordinary  limits  of  a  table  of  errata.  Some  of  these  are 
trivial  or  will  at  once  be  detected  as  typographical  mis- 
takes, but  others  for  which  we  equally  repudiate  the 
responsibility  are  more  serious,  or  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
baffle  all  curiosity  as  to  their  precise  extent  and  origin. 
Under  these  circumstances  we  throw  ourselves  upon  the 
mercy  of  those  of  our  readers  who,  having  suffered  them- 
selves in  like  manner  and  from  the  same  cause,  will,  we 
trust,  regard  our  frailty  and  unavoidable  misfortune  with 
indulgence.  The  writing  of  this  work  was  not  commenced 
until  after  the  late  war  ;  and  though  the  printing  began  as 
far  back  as  November  1868,  the  publication  has  been  de- 
layed until  the  present  moment  for  reasons  which  we  the 
editors  could  neither  remove  nor  modify.  Some  of  these 
reasons  might  also  be  pleaded  in  extenuation  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  volumes  are  now  put  before  the  pub- 
lic. It  is  true  the  copy  as  furnished  to  the  printer  was  in 
a  state  not  at  all  unlike  that  of  the  leaves  of  the  Delphic 
sibyl.  But,  to  borrow  a  caveat  from  the  Preface  of  "  Alex- 
ander on  Isaiah,"  "  instead  of  resorting  to  the  usual  apolo- 
gies of  distance  from  the  press  and  inexperience  in  the 
business,  or  appealing  to  the  fact  that  the  sheets  could  be 
subjected  only  once  "  to  our  revision,  we  prefer  to  commit 
ourselves  to  the  generosity  of  those  who  are  willing  to  be- 
lieve that  in  spite  of  present  appearances  we  have  made 
every  reasonable  effort  to  secure  accuracy.  For  the  foot 
notes  that  are  given  without  signature,  I  am,  except  in 
one  *  instance,  myself  responsible. 

May  the  Lord  make  this  account  of  the  life  of  one  of 
his  devoted  servants,  instrumental  to  the  promotion  of  his 
own  glory ! 

H.  C.  A. 

*  The  foot-note  at  the  bottom  of  p.  45,  should  have  been  under  the  signa- 
ture, "  R.  B." 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Parentage. — The  Mother. — The  Father. — The  Old  Pine  Stieet  Church. — James 
Alexander. — Lombard  Street. — Old  Philadelphians.  — Germantown. — James 
Ross. — Anecdotes  of  Addison. — Princeton. — The  College. — Nassau  Hall. — 
Revolutionary  Incidents. — Thirst  for  Knowledge. — Love  of  Books. — Rapid 
Growth. — Beginnings  in  Latin. — Introduction  to  Hebrew. — Other  Oriental 
Languages. — Princeton  under  Dr.  Green. — Passion  for  Music. — European 
and  American  Choirs. — Influence  of  this  Taste  on  his  Sermons. — Imagina- 
tion and  Fancy. — Intellectual  Amusements. — The  Boyish  Orator. — Facetious 
Turn. — First  Efforts  at  Verse. — Early  Poetical  Ventures. — Early  Attempts 
at  Rhyming. — Poetical  Talents. — Early  Teachers. — Jemmy  Hamilton. — 
Salmon  Strong. — Horace  S.  Pratt. — Classical  School. — Robert  Baird. — 
Talent  for  Writing. — Great  Industry. — Facsimile  of  Arabic— At  School.— 
Trenton  Reminiscences. — Traits  of  Character. — Personal  Appearance. — 
Mr.  King's  Recollections. — Humorous  Writing. — "The  Medley." — Original 
Composition. — Stony  Brook. — Mr.  Baird. — Edward  Irving. — James. — Ap- 
pointed Tutor. — Characteristics. — Visits  Philadelphia Page  1 

CHAPTER   II. 

Dr.  Lindsley. — His  Pupils. — Power  of  Memory. — Princeton  of  1824. — College 
Curriculum. — Old  Commencement. — Princeton  Society  and  Celebrities. — 
Mr.  Janvier. — The  McCarriers. — Jemmy  McCarrier. — Mr.  Alexander  in 
College. — His  Speeches. — At  College. — Habits  and  Appearance. — Quickness 
of  Parts. — Many-sided  Character. — Judge  Napton. — Early  Taste  for  Litera- 
ture.— Moral  Habits. — Highly  Gifted. — Character  of  his  Mind. — Equality 
of  his  Faculties.— College  Club.— G.  W.  Boiling.— Valedictory.— Clerk  of 
Common  Council. — First  Letter. — Letters  Received. — Visits  Long  Branch. 
— Letter  of  Mrs.  Graham. — Mr.  McCall. — His  Scholarship 61 

CHAPTER  III. 

Declines  the  Tutorship. — Charles  Campbell. — Testimony  of  Professor  Haft. — 
Philological  Society. — Love  for  English  Classics. — The  Patriot. — Persian 
Poets. — Oriental  Scenes. — Persian  Legends. — Persian  Mind. — Persian  My- 
thology.—  Poet's  Paradise. — Literary  Caprices. — Imitation  of  Johnson. — 


X  CONTENTS. 

Arabian  Nights. — Articles  signed  Trochilus. — Commencement,  1827.— 
Alumni  Association. — Foreign  News. — "  The  Sea." — Critique  on  Shelley. — 
Party  Politics. — Puzzling  Leader  of  August,  1827. — Writing  of  Fiction. — 
Jewess  of  Damascus. — The  Emporium. — Estimate  of  Time. — Reading  Ho- 
mer.— Early  Letter. — When  Written. — Admiration  of  Hebrew. — Italian 
and  Spanish  Studies. — Tears  of  Esau. — Monthly  Magazine. — Writing 
Verses. — Dr.  Snowden. — His  Letters. — Monthly  Magazine. — Persia  and  the 
East. — Fall  of  Ispahan. — A  Vision  of  Greece. — English  Poets. — Change  of 
Studies Page  96 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Journal. — Daily  Studies. — English  Reading. — Early  Criticism. — Studies  for  the 
Month. — Studies  for  the  Week. — Quarterly  Retrospect. — Varied  Reading. — 
Philological  Society  formed. — Scenery  of  Princeton. — Devoted  to  his 
Books. — Nucleus  of  a  Library. — Begins  Chinese. — Retrospect  of  the  Year. 
— Memoranda  of  Dr.  Rice. — Old  Black  and  Peter  Arun. — Their  Character- 
istics.— Johnson,  Crow,  Lane. — Reading  for  the  Day. — Aristophanes  and 
Shakespeare. — English  Metaphysics. — Brown's  Lectures. — Dante  and  Spen- 
ser.— Scott's  Napoleon. — Scott's  Style. — Persian  New  Testament. — Greek 
Writers. — Letter  from  his  Brother. — Scott's  Napoleon. — Estimate  of  Xeno- 
phon. — Hearing  Sermons. — Joseph  Sandford. — Recollections  of  Dr.  Rice. — 
Visit  to  New  York 146 

CHAPTER   V. 

Rezeau  Brown. — Visits  New  Haven. — Seeking  the  Ministry. — In  Philadelphia. 
— Failing  Health. — His  Death. — Traits  of  Character. — Lines  on  his  Death. 
— Their  Character. — About  the  Geography. — Daily  Study. — Pope. — Biblical 
Repertory. — The  Repertory. — Change  of  Plan. — Its  Writers. — The  Druses. 
— Extracts. — Study  of  Arabic. — An  Old  Tradition. — Study  of  Arabic. — Rob- 
ert Walsh. — Opinions  of  him. — Walsh  in  Paris. — Recollections  of  Dr. 
Jones. — An  Incident. — Contributions. — Letter  to  Dr.  Hall. — Article  on 
Coffee 182 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Becomes  a  Teacher. — The  East. — Early  Dreams. — Study  of  Greek. — Remarka- 
ble Letter. — Greek  Grammar. — Hellenistic  Studies. — Purity  of  Life. — Con- 
version.— Diary  of  Experience. — Comfort  in  the  Bible. — Light  in  Darkness. 
— Confessions. — Experimental  Journal 212 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Entrance  upon  his  Professorship. — Progress  in  Studies. — Subjects  of  Study. — 
Pursuing  Hebrew. — Leading  Characteristics. — In  the  Class. — Mr.  George 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Leyburn. — Articles  Written. — Parke  Godwin,  Esq. — Studies  of  the  Year. — 
TurkisQ  Language.  —  Burlesque  Writing.  —  Metaphysics.  —  Grammatical 
Studies. — Journal. — Religious  Experience. — The  Two  Brothers. — His  Read- 
'  ing. — He  Loves  the  Bible. — Temptation. — Daily  Reading. — Letter  to  Mr. 
Hall Page  242 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Oriental  Preferences. — The  Koran. — Mohammedanism. — The  False  Prophet. — 
The  Perspicuous  Book. — The  Study  of  Arabic. — Foreign  Grammars. — Fa- 
miliarity with  Current  Arabic. — Henry  Vethake. — College  Manners. — Anec 
dotes. — Public  Prayers. — Modesty  and  Skill  as  a  Teacher. — The  Trenton 
Pastor. — Newspaper  Scribblings. — Progress  in  Studies 265 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Sails  from  New  York. — Ship  Samson. — English  Stage  Coach. — Portsmouth  to 
London. — House  of  Commons. — Edward  Irving. — His  Church. — "  Tongues." 
— Coach-ride  from  Oxford. — Dashing  Coachman. — Visits  Prof.  Lee. — La- 
fayette.— A  Visit. — Religious  Service. — Travelling  Companions. — Letter. — 
Singing  School. — Swiss  Songs. — Visits  Merle. — Letter  Finished. — Verses 
Written  at  Turin. — Poem. — Travelling  Companions. — Journey. — On  to 
Rome. — Via  Cassia. — Thoughts  of  Home. — Leaves  Rome. — New  Chair  in 
the  College. — Tholuck. — Von  Gerlach. — Daily  Life  in  Germany. — Professor 
Pott. — Contribution  of  Professor  Sears. — Walk  with  Tholuck.— Anecdotes. 
— Tholuck's  Estimate  of  Alexander. — Anecdote  of  Louis  von  Gerlach. — 
Karl  Ritter  and  Hengstenberg. — Neander  and  Schleiermacher. — Visits  Ne- 
ander. — Bopp,  Rheinwald  and  Nitzsch. — Reminiscences  by  Dr.  Samuel  Mil- 
ler.— Paris  and  Princeton  Habits  Contrasted 283 

CHAPTER  X. 
The  New  Professor. — Severity  in  the  Class-room. — Growth  in  Gentleness. — Dr. 
Lyon's  Recollections. — Manners  in  his  Study. — Power  of  Sarcasm. — Lite- 
rary Recreations. — Knowledge  of  European  Politics. — The  Literary  Asso- 
ciation.— Repertory  Articles. — Evening  Diversions. — Colloquy  with  Three 
Bishops. — Remarks  of  Dr.  Scott. — Dr.  Hilyer. — Studies  of  the  Brothers. — 
Bearing  in  his  Private  Classes. — Testimony  of  Professor  Hart. — Tribute  by 
Dr.  Wilson. — Biblical  and  Oriental  Labours. — Plan  of  Study. — His  New 
Chair. — Messianic  Interpretation. — English.  Reviews. — Miscellaneous  Read- 
ing.— Bible  Study 332 

CHAPTER  XL 

Old  and  New  School. — Scripture  Reading. — Professorship  Declined. — Dean 
Swift. — Mr.  James  Alexander. — Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. — His  Preachin°\ 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

— Private  Classes. — Personal  Traits. — Bearing  towards  his  Class. — Sharp 
Censure. — Conversation. — Observer  of  Men. — Dr.  Hall. — Correspondence. — 
Arabic  Letter. — Prayers. — A  Specimen. — Resolutions. — Estimate  of  his 
Prayers. — Prayers  before  Lecture Page  358 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Discursive  Reading. — Quarterly  Review. — Dr.  Ramsey. — Abhorrence  of  Drones. 
— Gentleness. — Interest  in  his  Class. — Oral  Expositions. — Massive  Intellect. 
— Impetuous  Feelings. — Current  Stories. — Offensive  Manners. — Effects  of  the 
Weather. — Art  Napoleon. — Private  Pupils. — Rhyming  Letter. — Travelling. 
— Teaching  under  Difficulties.  —Writing  Letters. — Alphabets. — Correspond- 
ence.— Seeking  Books 380 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Personal  Appearance. — Social  Intercourse. — High  Pressure  Teaching. — Hard 
Study. — Stolid  Students. — Assembly  of  1837. — A  Latin  Tense. — Picture  of 
Princeton. — Contributions  to  the  Papers. — Letters  to  a  Pupil. — True  Hap- 
piness.— Isaiah  begun.— The  Doomed  Man. — When  Written. — Parallel  Bi- 
ble.— Letters  to  Dr.  Hall. — First  Efforts  in  Pulpit. — Experiments  with  his 
Class. — Questions  in  the  Class. — Methods  of  Study. — With  his  Private 
Class. — Bible  Studies. — A  Poem  Suggested. — A  Sermon. — Princeton  Re- 
view.— A  Letter. — Philosophical  Club. — Curious  Incident. — Missionary 
Herald. — Diary. — A  Sermon. — Exegetical  Study. — A  Candidate. — Beggars. 
— Growth  in  Grace. — Scripture  Reading 402 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

As  a  Preacher. — Dr.  Ramsey's  Estimate. — First  Sermon. — Diversity  of  Methods. 
— True  Eloquence. — Travelling. — Preaching. — Views  of  the  Disruption. — In 
Boston. — Dr.  Hodge's  Estimate. — Letters  to  a  Boy. — Day-Book. — Writing 
Sermons. — Journal. — An  Elocutionist. — Dr.  Abel  Stevens. — Style  of  Preach- 
ing. — Invitations  to  Preach. — Installation. — Inaugural. — A  Sermon. — Man- 
ner of  Preaching. — Writing  Sermons. — Not  dependent  on  Notes. — Scripture 
Study. — Cicero. — Talk  of  the  Brothers. — His  Ordination 439 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Presbyterial  Examination. — Joseph  John  Gurney. — Little  George. — Dr.  Jacobus. 
— Power  over  the  Class. — First  Thoughts  of  Isaiah. — Isaiah. — Hebrew  Text. 
— Princeton. — Preaching. — As  a  Teacher. — His  Audience  Moved 468 


THE    LIFE 


REV.  JOSEPH  ADDISON  ALEXANDER,  D.  D. 


CHAPTER  I. 


TOSEPH  ADDISON  ALEXANDER,  the  subject  of  this 
*J  memoir,  was  the  third  son  of  the  late  Archibald  Alexander, 
D.  D.,  of  Princeton,  and  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
on  the  24th  day  of  April,  1809.  Of  his  father  I  need  not  speak. 
His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  the  Ptev.  James  Waddel,  of 
Louisa  and  of  Hanover  Presbytery,  Avho  is  still  spoken  of  in 
Virginia  and  elsewhere  as  the  "Blind  Preacher," and  whose 
name  is  preserved  in  the  well-known  essay  of  Mr.  Wirt  in  the 
British  Spy.  The  late  Governor  Barbour  was  wont  to  speak 
of  him  as  the  most  eloquent  man  he  ever  heard,  with  the 
single  exception  of  Patrick  Henry.  Mrs.  Alexander  was  a 
beautiful  and  lovely  girl,  and  was  comely  and  fascinating 
almost  to  the  day  of  her  death.  The  portrait  by  Mooney, 
which  is  in  the  possession  of  the  family,  is  very  like  her.  She 
had  dark  liquid  eyes,  and  her  face  wore  a  look  of  repose, 
benevolence,  good  sense,  and  sometimes,  when  animated  in  con- 
versation, of  gentle  raillery  and  humour.  Her  sensibility 
was  extreme  and  tremulous.  She  had  a  sweet  gayety  of  spir- 
its, shaded  at  times  by  a  pensive  melancholy.  She  was,  in 
every  acceptation  of  the  word,  devotedly  pious.  Her  labo- 
rious readings  to  her  aged  and  sightless  father  had  injured 
her  own  vision.  She  loved  her  Saviour,  and  the  house, 
I 


2  PARENTAGE.  [1809. 

people,  works,  and  word  of  her  God.  She  was  fond  of  re- 
ligious books.  No  one  could  take  a  more  unaffected  pleasure 
in  the  writings  of  Flavel,  Bates,  and  other  non-conformists. 
It  was  her  study  to  do  good,  and  to  make  her  home  and  the 
home  of  her  husband  and  children  cheerful  and  happy ;  nor 
did  any  one  ever  succeed  better  in  such  an  attempt.  Though 
naturally  diffident  and  very  sensitive,  she  loved  company, 
and  when  she  pleased  was  one  of  the  most  entertaining 
persons  in  the  world.  Her  children  were  all  proudly  attached 
to  her,  and  her  son  Addison  not  only  loved  but  admired  her 
above  all  living  women.*     There  was  an  indescribable  charm 


*  The  testimony  of  one  of  Addison's  teachers  on  this  point  is  exceedingly 
just  and  valuable.  It  is  contained  in  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  R.  Baird  to 
the  Presbyterian,  which  he  wrote  at  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  May  12,  1860. 

"  I  may  remark,  in  passing,  that  few  men  in  our  country  or  any  other,  had 
greater  advantages  for  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  and  the  formation  of  well- 
developed  characters,  than  the  sons  of  the  late  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander.  Their 
mother  was  a  daughter  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  Waddel  of  Virginia,  of  whose 
eloquence  William  Wirt  has  given  such  a  glowing  description  in  his  British 
Spy,  and  possessed  much  of  her  father's  character  and  strength  of  mind.  She 
was  a  woman  of  excellent  judgment,  well-cultivated  intellect,  most  amiable  dis- 
position, much  decision  of  character,  sincere  piety,  and  even  in  old  age  retained 
much  of  the  beauty  of  her  youth,  and  of  those  pleasant  and  winning  manners 
which  are  better  than  beauty.  Well  qualified  as  she  was  to  adorn  any  circle 
of  society  in  which  she  might  have  moved,  she  devoted  herself  with  most  unre- 
mitting care  to  the  training  of  her  children,  rightly  believing  that  this  was  the 
first  and  groat  duty  which  she  owed  to  the  Saviour  and  to  them.  Her  delight- 
ful influence  greatly  contributed  to  make  home  the  most  pleasant  place  in  the 
world  to  them.  The  company,  too,  of  an  accomplished  and  affectionate  sister, 
and  often  that  of  most  agreeable  female  relatives  from  the  Old  Dominion,  as 
well  as  of  friends  from  Philadelphia,  where  their  father  had  been  pastor  of  a 
church  during  several  years,  contributed  to  make  the  house  of  their  parents  all 
that  could  be  desired.  I  have  sometimes  thought  that  it  was  almost  too 
pleasant ;  on  any  other  principle  it  is  hard  to  account  for  the  fact  that  so  many 
of  them  have  remained  unmarried. 

"  The  influence  of  their  father  was  not  less  happy  and  effective  than  that  of 
their  excellent  mother  on  all  these  sons.  Dr.  Alexander  was  a  kind  father,  but 
not  too  indulgent.  At  all  times  he  lived  on  terms  of  great  intimacy  with  them, 
and  sometimes,  especially  in  his  younger  life,  would  take  part  in  their  youthful 


>Et.1.]  THE    MOTHER.  3 

about  her  voice  and  manner,  and  she  had  a  fine  and  cultivated 
understanding. 

It  is  impossible  to  exaggerate  the  influence  of  such  a 
mother  upon  the  mind  and  character  of  her  children.  In  ap- 
pearance, and  many  habits  and  traits  of  character  and  intellect, 
Addison  was  like  the  Alexanders,  and  especially  like  his  father; 
but  in  many  particulars  of  mind  and  disposition  he  was,  to  use 
the  language  of  another  who  is  not  a  resident  of  Staunton  and 
not  related  to  the  family,  "  his  grandfather's  son  (James  Wad- 
del)."  He  was  still  more  his  mother's,  son;  though  in  after 
years  he  grew  to  be  more  and  more  in  person,  if  not  in  tem- 
perament, like  his  father  and  one  or  two  of  his  father's  sisters. 

The  commentator  on  Isaiah  had  the  most  exalted  notion  of 
his  mother's  rare  powers  as  an  interpreter  of  Scripture.  He 
preferred  her  plain,  unaided  judgments  to  the  opinions  of  all 
the  Fathers  and  Councils.  It  would  be  hard  to  find  a  more 
passionately  devoted  son.  He  has  been  heard  to  expatiate 
with  delight  on  the  soft  attractions  and  ingratiating  charm  of 
her  society.  His  eye  would  sometimes  kindle,  and  his  voice 
become  tender,  when  he  was  on  this  theme.  She  was  equally 
wrapt  up  in  her  famous  son.  But  if  she  indulged  him  it  was 
in  reason,  and  with  a  wise  consideration  of  the  future.  The 
truth  was,  from  the  very  beginning  the  boy  needed  little 
guidance  and  little  correction.  Even  his  profound,  sagacious 
father,  that  thoughtful  and   patient  student  of  mental  and 

sports  with  evident  gratification  to  himself  as  well  as  to  them.  I  often  had  oc- 
casion to  call  upon  him  in  his  study  at  night,  and  frequently  found  some  of  the 
smaller  boys  about  him,  reading  or  amusing  themselves  ;  and  he  told  me  that 
it  never  interfered  with  his  studies.  They  had  free  access  to  his  library,  which 
was  large,  and,  as  they  grew  up,  to  the  libraries  of  the  Institutions  in  Prince- 
ton. And  as  all  the  sons  received  a  classical  education,  and  graduated  at  the 
College  of  that  place,  they  had  abundant  advantages  for  becoming  well-in- 
structed men.  The  daily  converse  with  their  parents  did  much  to  create  and 
increase  the  love  of  knowledge  for  which  they  became  so  much  distinguished. 
I  have  been  told  by  the  late  James  W.  Alexander,  that  he  had  heard  at  his 
father's  table  very  many  of  the  most  important  things  which  he  ever  learned. 
The  advantages  of  growing  up  under  such  an  influence,  and  in  the  midst  of  so 
many  incentives  to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  cannot  be  overrated." 


4  THE    FATHER.  [1809. 

spiritual  phenomena,  though  ever  on  the  alert  as  regarded  acts 
of  disobedience,  like  the  father  of  Pascal  left  his  son  pretty 
much  to  his  own  bent.  His  discipline  was  suggestive,  rather 
than  strictly  coercive.  He  saw  clearly  from  the  first  that  Ad- 
dison was  to  be  his  own  master.  The  fruits  of  this  training 
are  now  evident  in  the  life  and  fame  of  the  great  Biblical 
scholar.  We  cannot  but  rejoice  that  his  powers  were  not  too 
much  restrained  in  infancy  and  youth,  but  were  allowed  to 
develop  themselves  in  the  natural  ways.  There  are  few  cases 
in  which  such  a  course  would  be  wise ;  but  this  was  one  of 
them. 

His  ancestry  was  Scotch-Irish,  and  as  much  of  the  manly 
and  racy  vigour  of  his  mind,  and  bold  intrepidity  as  well  as 
honest  frankness  of  his  temper,  are  traceable  to  this  sturdy 
stock,  I  think  it  well  to  say  a  word  or  two  about  the  emigra- 
tion to  this  country  from  the  North  of  Ireland.*  Many  of 
these  stout  Presbyterians  Avent  to  the  Great  Valley,  and  laid 
the  foundations  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  in  Virginia. 
These  reputable  settlers  had  been  taught  to  thirst  for  the  best 
literature  of  the  age.  Their  earliest  predilections  wei-e  for  the 
union  of  regulated  freedom  and  sound  learning.  Their  de- 
scendants followed  in  their  footsteps.  "Reasons  might  be 
given  why  the  sons  of  Scottish  settlers  in  Ulster,  more  than 
any  others  of  the  British  isles,  should  come  to  this  country; 
impelled  by  the  same  causes  which  drove  the  Huguenot  and 
the  Palatine.  During  their  sojourn  in  Ireland,  they  had  never 
lost  one  Scottish  jjeculiarity  of  mind  or  dialect.  They  came 
ready  to  coalesce  with  the  Puritan  sons  of  men  who  had  some- 
times fought,  and  sometimes  suffered  with  their  fathers.  A 
common  creed  and  common  purpose  knit  them  together  in  as- 
serting the  consecration  of  science  and  letters  to  the  church."  f 
The  catalogue  of  Princeton  College  shows  that  no  other  race 
added  so  many  to  the  names  of  her  alumni.     With  some  ex- 

*  See  the  account  by  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  in  his  biography  by  his  son,  p.  2. 
f  Address  at  Centennial  Celebration  of  the  College  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Alexan- 
der, D.D.     This  address  has  never  been  published. 


^Bt.3.]  the  old   PINE   STREET   CHURCH.  5 

ceptions,  the  founders  of  the  college  were  of  this  stock,  and 
mingled  cordially  with  their  brethren  of  English  descent. 
"Carolina,  East  Jersey  and  Maryland  received  these  exiles, 
panting  from  persecution,  as  early  as  1679.  They  spread 
themselves  over  the  Great  Valley,  a  hardy,  athletic,  shrewd, 
inquisitive,  and  remarkably  persistent  race."  *  This  was  the 
stock  from  which  Archibald,  and  James,  and  Addison  Alex- 
ander sprung. 

Dr.  Alexander  removed  to  Philadelphia  in  the  winter  of 
1806-1807,  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  Third  Presbyterian 
Church,  now  known  as  the  old  Pine  street  Church.  His  eldest 
son  speaks  of  having  had  a  few  dim  recollections  of  Prince  Ed- 
ward, and  clearly  remembered  the  old  prayer-room  of  Hamp- 
den Sidney  College.  He  also  had  some  faint  remembrance  of 
the  journey  to  Philadelphia.  His  first  bright  reminiscences 
were  connected  with  a  house  in  Pine  street,  just  opposite  St. 
Peter's  churchyard.  This  was  the  first  house  occupied  by  his 
father.  He  calls  to  mind  his  surprise  at  the  burial  of  several 
persons  with  military  honours,  and  wondered,  as  children  will, 
why  they  should  fire  guns  over  the  grave.  He  says  that  in 
the  spring  the  rank  grass,  interspersed  with  buttercups  and 
dandelions,  made  the  churchyard  a  delightful  spot.  He  was 
afterwards  told  by  his  mother  that  he  was  a  stubborn  and  un- 
governable child.  He  was  once  taken  home  by  her  and  cor- 
rected for  playing  with  a  little  girl  in  chnrch — he  never  re- 
peated the  offence.  An  old  Bible  lay  in  the  pastor's  pew, 
which  the  little  urchins  used  to  tear  up  and  twist  into  "  ear- 
ticklers,"  which  they  profanely  used  during  prayers.  He  well 
rememhered  the  singing  of  James  McGathery,  who  was  pre- 
centor,  and  the  acerbity  of  David  Allen,  the  old  Scotch  sexton, 
and  the  goats  which  used  to  browse  in  the  churchyard.  A 
very  excellent  Quaker  lady  named  Price  lived  next  to  them  in 
Pine  street,  who  was  very  kind  to  James  and  used  to  encour- 
age him  to  get  upon  a  table  and  preach,  which  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  do  with  much   applause.      An   old  family  servant 

*  Ibid. 


6  JAMES    ALEXANDER.  [1813. 

named  Daphne,  once  a  slave  in  Virginia,  who  returned  to  the 
Valley  after  receiving  her  freedom,  and  who  lived  to  a  great 
age,  was  full  of  anecdotes  relating  to  these  juvenile  exploits. 
She  could  tell  them  long  after  she  had  forgotten  nearly  every 
thing  else.  Mrs.  Price  was  still  living  in  1829,  and  spoke  of 
James  as  "  a  very  pious  child."  He  was  however  too  much 
given  to  imitate  the  clerical  actions  of  his  father,  and  was 
once  chastised  for  solemnly  pouring  water  on  a  little  chair  and 
uttering  the  formula  of  baptism.  Once  during  the  prevalence 
of  a  thunder-storm,  he  said  to  his  brother  or  his  nurse  that  it 
was  "  God  talking,"  and  even  undertook  to  tell  what  He  was 
saying ;  for  which  he  afterwards  had  some  twinges. 

The  cries  of  the  man  who  sold  clams  and  oysters  were 
matters  of  deep  interest  in  those  days.  Even  Addison  could 
also  recall  the  song  of  the  little  chimney  sweeps.  The  nurse 
used  to  take  the  older  boys  to  a  cake  shop  in  the  vicinity,  and 
the  eldest  of  them  in  his  simplicity  thought  that  what  they 
got  upon  trust  they  got  for  nothing. 

The  next  house  in  which  they  lived  was  on  the  south  side 
of  Lombard  street,  between  Second  and  Third  streets.  It  was 
used  in  1828  as  a  "  finding  store  "  for  shoemakers.  One  of  the 
boys  remembered  being  taken  thither  in  a  coach,  but  none  of 
the  circumstances  attending  the  removal.  This  must  have 
been  in  1808,  and  consequently  before  the  birth  of  Addison, 
which  occurred  the  following  spring.  This  event  was  dis- 
tinctly remembered  by  his  brother  James,  who  was  moved  by 
it  to  tears.  He  says  it  gave  him  much  pain,  and  in  the  ten- 
derness of  his  heart  he  wept  to  think  that  he  should  be  sup- 
planted in  the  affections  of  his  parents.  Little  did  he  know 
the  joy  he  was  to  take  in  his  new  brother. 

The  late  Dr.  Addison  Waddel,  afterwards  of  Staunton, 
Virginia,  his  mother's  brother,  was  at  that  time  living  with 
Dr.  Alexander.  Here  it  was  that  James  began  to  study  the 
Latin  grammar,  reciting  it  to  his  father,  and  he  long  afterwards 
regretted  his  "  wicked  craft  "  in  peeping  over  his  shoulder  at 
the  book.  The  study  fronted  the  street,  on  the  first  floor,  with 
a  little  window  opening  upon  the  stairway,  through  which  the 


.Et.4.1  LOMBARD    STREET.  7 

boys  used  to  look  in  upon  marriages  which  sometimes  took 
place  there.  These  were  the  days  of  the  first  stir  in  America 
about  Bible  Societies,  and  the  Philadelphia  pastor  used  to  give 
Bibles  to  poor  people.  In  the  little  court  behind  the  house 
was  an  arbour  covered  with  a  grape-vine,  and  some  little  beds 
of  flowers.  Long  afterwards  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander  could 
scarcely  ever  see  a  pink  without  thinking  of  Lombard  street. 
It  was,  he  says,  with  an  indescribable  pensive  satisfaction  that 
he  looked  back  upon  those  days  of  comparative  innocence. 
He  scarcely,  ever  went  to  bed  without  talking  to  his  mother 
about  the  unpardonable  sin ;  which  he  stood  in  daily  fear  of 
committing.  There  were  no  Sunday  Schools  then,  but  he  re- 
membered going  every  Saturday  afternoon  to  Pine  street 
Church  to  be  catechised.  Almost  every  day  he  went  to  Sec- 
ond street,  to  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Steele,  who  having  no 
children  of  his  own  was  very  kind  to  him.  He  was  an  Irish- 
man, and  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Steele  of  Abingdon, 
Pa.,  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Steele  of  Kentucky.  Here  the  little 
visitor  used  to  read  the  Pilgrim's  Progress,  and  the  Olney 
Hymns,  which  he  always  held  in  high  affection.  On  his  sev- 
enth birthday  his  father  presented  him  with  Day's  Sanford  and 
Merton,  telling  him  that  he  was  "  now  a  youth,  and  must  begin 
to  prepare  for  manhood."  This  somewhat  singular  advice 
was  heeded.  The  lad  was  fond  of  reading,  and  used  to  pace 
the  floor  for  hours.  He  fairly  gorged  the  English  classics,  and 
in  course  of  time  not  a  few  of  the  Latin  ones,  especially  the 
poets.  He  used  to  say  that  he  had  read  the  whole  college 
course  in  Latin,  and  possibly  in  Greek,  before  he  was  matric- 
ulated. He  recollected  well  that  Dr.  James  P.  Wilson  of  the 
First  Church,  told  him  that  he  was  "  a  little  peripatetic  philos- 
opher." This  habit  of  pacing  his  study  floor  he  kept  up 
through  life.  He  went  to  his  first  school  about  1810-1811.  It 
was  under  the  charge  of  Madam  Thomson,  as  the  scholars 
called  her,  on  the  north  side  of  Lombard  street,  below  Third. 
He  never  could  remember  learning  to  read  and  write,  nor  did 
he  ever  have  any  distinct  impressions  about  beginning  Latin. 
About  the  time  of  the  birth  of  his  brother  Addison,  i  e.,  in 


8  OLD    PHILADELPHIANS.  [1813. 

April,  1809,  he  began  to  go  to  the  school  of  a  Mr.  Littell, 
and  retained  a  disagreeable  remembrance  of  "the  squalid 
and  dark  appearance  of  the  room,"  and  the  tricks  which 
the  rude  boys  used  to  play  upon  him,  who,  taking  advantage 
of  his  smallness  and  timidity,  appear  to  have  fagged  him 
dreadfully.  His  principal  reminiscences  of  Lombard  street 
were  the  marriages  which  took  place  in  his  father's  study,  his 
frequent  visits  to  the  market,  the  book-binder's,  and  the  flour 
shop,  the  song  of  the  oysterman,  which  I  have  often  heard  him 
sing,  and  the  books  given  him  by  his  friends. 

The  family  next  removed  to  Fourth  street  below  Lombard, 
west  side,  next  door  but  one  to  Gaskill  street.  "  And  here," 
he  records,  "  a  crowd  of  early  impressions  contend  for  prece- 
dence." There  he  began  to  remember  his  father's  preaching, 
the  people  that  used  to  visit  them,  and  the  tradesmen  with 
whom  they  had  dealings.  The  house  was  occupied  at  a  later 
day  by  a  Major  Linnard.  In  the  neighbourhood  was  a  choco- 
late factory  in  which  James  took  much  interest,  and  a  gilder's 
shop,  out  of  the  windows  of  which  were  thrown  the  little  red 
books  in  which  gold-foil  is  kept.  The  little  fragments  of  the 
precious  metal  he  accounted  a  great  prize.  The  coup  d'o&il  of 
a  print-shop  two  doors  off  from  his  father's  house  remained  in 
his  memory.  Near  them  on  Gaskill  street  was  a  mustard  fac- 
tory. His  father's  study  was  here  the  front  room  on  the  sec- 
ond story,  and  in  it  were  spent  some  of  his  son's  happiest 
hours.  His  father  used  to  give  him,  on  slips  of  paper,  a  text 
for  every  day ;  and  these,  when  a  certain  number  had  been 
learned,  he  would  redeem  with  small  gifts  of  money.  Dr. 
Alexander,  with  several  others  of  the  city  clergy,  took  lessons 
in  Hebrew  about  this  time  from  one  JTorwitz,  a  Jew,  who  after- 
wards fell  into  some  degree  of  disrepute. 

The  family  commonly  spent  their  summers  at  German- 
town,  six  or  seven  miles  out  of  town,  where  they  hired  a  small 
house  for  the  season.  This  captivating  region,  as  it  is  now, 
of  suburban  drives  and  cottages,  of  green  and  shadowed 
lawns,  and  clambering  exotics,  was  already  beautiful,  though 
plain  and  little  celebrated.     Old  Dr.  Blair  was  then  alive,  and 


JEt.  4.]  GERMANTOWN.  9 

James  Alexander  was  often  at  his  house.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Dunn 
was  the  Presbyterian  minister,  and  his  son  James's  intimate 
friend.  One  of  his  little  Philadelphia  comrades  was  Silas,  a 
brother  of  the  late  George  Potts,  D.D.,  of  New  York.  One 
day  an  English  missionary  was  addressing  a  large  number 
of  children,  of  whom  he  would  collect  hundreds,  upon  the 
journeys  of  St.  Paul,  and  particularly  his  imprisonment  at 
Antioch.  Having  finished  his  "  preachment,"  he  began  to 
catechise  the  boys  and  girls  on  what  they  had  heard.  Among 
other  questions,  he  proposed  this,  "  Who  was  Silas's  com- 
panion ?  "  George  Potts  answered  with  a  very  loud  voice — 
"  James  Alexander,  sir," — to  the  great  amusement  of  the  con- 
gregation. 

During  all  the  time  of  their  living  in  Philadelphia,  so  far  as 
he  can  recollect,  he  was  constant  in  the  performance  of  the 
duty  of  secret  prayer,  had  a  very  tender  conscience,  and  was 
often  exercised  about  the  concerns  of  his  soul.  He  was  pleased 
at  the  thought  that  he  should  one  day  he  a  preacher,  and  once 
Avrote  a  sermon,  part  of  which  was  recovered  and  held  in  trust 
for  him  by  one  of  his  aunts. 

He  went  to  school,  while  they  lived  in  Fourth  street,  to  a 
Mr.  McCleese,  who  had  nearly  100  pupils,  and  used  the  ferule 
in  Lombard  street,  the  north  side.  Here  he  Avas  taught  read- 
ing, writing,  &c.  In  Germantown  he  was  put  under  the  care 
of  a  Miss  Hotchkiss,  and  all  that  he  could  remember  was  that 
he  once  was  made  to  wear  the  fool's  cap,  with  bells,  and  that 
he  used  to  write  in  Carver's  copy-books. 

His  first  Latin  teacher  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Hare,  in 
after  days  his  predecessor  in  Trenton,  and  then  President  of 
Dickinson  College.  He  next  went  to  the  noted  James  Ross, 
author  of  the  Latin  grammar,  whom  he  pronounced  "  an  Or- 
bilius  in  severity,  but  a  most  accurate  scholar  of  the  old  Brit- 
ish school."  The  famous  pedagogue  was  wont  to  call  his  little 
pupil,  "Alexander  Magnus,"  in  allusion  to  his  diminutive  size. 
Ross  scourged  the  elder  scholars  unmercifully,  but  James  must 
have  pleased  him,  either  by  his  deportment  or  his  recitations, 
for  the  crabbed  master  always  treated  him  with  positive  affec- 


»' 


10  JAMES    ROSS.  [1813. 

tion.  Tears  after,  he  sent  his  old  pupil,  who  was  by  this  time 
a  well-known  clergyman,  Stockius's  Greek  Lexicon,  with  a 
kind  inscription,  which  was  doubtless  not  in  the  vulgar  tongue. 

Dr.  James  Alexander  had  no  recollection  of  the  sermons  he 
heard  in  Philadelphia,  except  one  from  his  father  in  commem- 
oration of  the  burning  of  the  theatre  in  Richmond,  which  was 
printed,  and  from  which  extracts  were  taken  by  his  biog- 
rapher. Once,  indeed,  he  went  with  Martha  Jones,  a  negro 
servant,  to  St.  Thomas's  African  Episcopal  Church  ;  where, 
and,  as  I  believe,  for  the  only  time  in  his  life,  he  saw  the  rite 
of  confirmation  solemnized  by  Bishop  White.  His  father,  he 
says,  sometimes  took  him  (I  presume  on  week  days)  to  the 
Romish  chapels;  and  he  retained  a  lively  impression  of  the 
music,  vestments,  incense,  holy  water,*  &c. 

It  is  now  high  time  we  were  inquiring  about  the  early  life 
of  Addison,  who  at  the  latest  date  involved  in  the  preceding 
narrative  was  little  more  than  a  mere  babe. 

Addison  was  a  little  Hercules,  even  in  his  cradle.  There 
was  never  a  moment's  doubt  as  to  the  boy's  capacity,  and  it 
was  always  evident  that  he  was  destined,  if  he  lived,  for  some- 
thing great.  He  was  regarded  as  a  prodigy  before  he  left  his 
nurse's  arms;  but  the  accounts  of  his  very  early  days  are,  as 
usual  in  such  cases,  provokingly  slight  and  fragmentary. 
When  but  a  few  months  old,  at  a  time  when  infants  of  the 
common  order  manifest  scarcely  any  signs  of  intelligence,  I  am 
informed  his  perceptions  were  singularly  quick,  and  his  evident 
appreciation  of  what  was  said  to  him  was  truly  wonderful. 
The  materials  out  of  which  the  story  of  his  childhood  will  have 
to  be  made  up  are  too  meagre  to  afford  much  satisfaction  to 
those  who  are  curious  in  such  matters,  and  may  perhaps  not 
be  thought  to  bear  out  the  impression  produced  upon  the 
minds  of  all  who  came  in  contact  with  this  remarkable  boy, 
that  he  was  gifted  from  the  first  with  faculties  of  the  highest 

*  These  particulars  of  the  Philadelphia  life  are  for  the  most  part  abridged 
from  a  manuscript  by  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander,  entitled  "  Recollections  of  my 
Early  Life."     The  language  is  largely  though  not  exclusively  his  own. 


<Et.4.]  ANECDOTES    OF    ADDISON.  11 

order,  and  that  those  faculties  were  already  well  developed 
at  an  astonishingly  early  period.  Whatever  may  be  the  judg- 
ment of  the  reader  as  to  the  inferences  to  be  drawn  from  the 
particular  facts  about  to  be  recited,  there  can  be  no  question 
in  any  reasonable  mind  that  considers  the  unanimity  of  the 
witnesses  who  speak  of  this  period,  or  that  duly  reflects  upon 
the  degree  of  mental  advancement  implied  in  the  diaries  of  a 
somewhat  later  period,  that  the  boy  Addison  was  worthy  of 
being  mentioned  among  les  enfans  celebres. 

The  few  anecdotes  which  are  preserved  of  this  period  will 
doubtless  interest  some  on  account  of  their  unquestioned  au- 
thenticity. They  also  shed  some  light  on  the  character  and 
disposition  of  the  man,  which  were  in  many  respects,  and  more 
than  is  usually  the  case,  the  same  with  those  of  the  boy. 

"When  he  was  still  in  the  arms  of  his  nurse,  his  mother  was 
in  the  habit  of  saying  to  him,  "  Addison,  say  your  prayei'S : " 
upon  which  he  would  shut  his  eyes,  place  the  palms  of  his 
hands  together,  and  look  up  with  an  appearance  of  solemn 
reverence. 

When  he  was  ahout  two  years  old,  his  father  read  one 
morning,  at  the  daily  worship  of  the  family,  the  eleventh  chap- 
ter of  the  Evangelist  John,  in  which  the  account  is  given  of 
the  raising  of  Lazarus.  Addison  seemed  to  have  listened  at- 
tentively to  the  narrative,  and  in  the  course  of  the  morning, 
when  but  one  person  was  in  the  room,  was  observed  to  take 
a  small  book  from  the  table  and  place  it  in  a  corner  on  the 
floor,  and  after  standing  over  it  for  a  short  time,  was  heard  to 
say  in  a  loud  voice,  "  Lazarus,  come  forth :  "  immediately  after 
which  he  placed  the  book  on  end. 

On  one  occasion  he  was  sent  by  his  mother  to  carry  to  his 
father's  study  a  manuscript  in  which  she  had  been  placing  a 
stitch.  On  leaving  the  study  he  turned  round  to  make  a  bow 
(which  was  an  accomplishment  that  had  been  lately  taught 
him),  but  stepped  too  far  back  and  fell  a  short  distance  down 
the  staircase,  which  was  immediately  at  the  study  door,  and 
fractured  his  collar-bone.  His  brother  James,  who  was  then  a 
little  boy  of  seven,  was  immediately  despatched  for  the  late 


12  ANECDOTES    OF    ADDISON.  [1813. 

Dr.  John  Dorsey,  at  that  time  rising  into  eminence  as  a  surgeos, 
who  promptly  repaired  to  his  assistance,  reduced  the  fracture, 
and  secured  the  arm  to  the  breast  in  many  folds  of  linen,  secun- 
dum artem.  While  his  arm  was  thus  confined,  Addison  indulged 
in  much  of  that  playful  humour  which  in  after  life  so  distin- 
guished him  in  the  family. 

At  the  age  of  four  years  he  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  Princeton,  which  was  destined  to  he  the  spot  of  his  life-long 
residence,  the  place  of  his  early  education,  the  field,  more  than 
any  other,  upon  which,  in  after  years,  he  was  to  deploy  his 
S}:>len<;lid  abilities,  and  which  was  to  be  the  theatre  of  his  ex- 
traordinary labours  and  hard-earned  unregarded  fame.  It  was 
here  too  that  his  body  was  to  rest  in  hope. 

He  was  at  this  time  a  gentle,  retiring,  observing,  thoughtful 
child — full  of  animal  spirits  and  genuine  humour;  the  delight 
of  the  household,  the  astonishment  and  despair  of  his  little 
school-fellows ;  invariably  attracting  the  notice  of  every  vis- 
itor by  the  sparkle  of  his  wit,  and  the  originality  of  his  re- 
marks. 

There  is  to  some  minds  a  strange  beguiling  pleasure  in  the 
attempt  to  trace  out  the  localities  which  have  been  the  home  of 
men  of  worth  or  talents.  Princeton  is  ten  miles  from  the  State 
capital,  in  Mercer  county,  and  lies  embosomed  in  a  very  lovely 
region,  of  late  years  made  more  pleasing  and  fragrant  than 
ever  before.  It  is  the  centre  of  a  wide  circumference  of  cham- 
paign country,  broken  in  the  rear  of  the  toAvn  by  abrupt  rocky 
barriers,  and  terminated  in  the  extreme  distance  on  several 
sides  by  a  faint  wavy  line  of  blue  hills,  which  sometimes  shine 
with  a  light  as  soft  as  that  of  Pentelicus,  but  are  often  nearly 
invisible.  The  level  fields  and  graceful  laps  of  tilled  surface 
composing  this  fine  prospect  show  every  token  of  thrift,  plenty, 
and  the  most  careful  husbandry.  The  whole  is  dotted  over 
with  snug  homesteads  and  orchards,  and  intersected  with  neat 
fences.  Red  and  white  cattle  are  everywhere  to  be  seen 
browsing  upon  the  close-cut  pastures.  Through  the  midst  of 
plain,  grove,  green  protuberance  and  meadow,  the  landscape  is 
streaked  by  the  sinuous  current  of  Stony  Brook,  or  as  it  is 


jUt.4.1  PKINCETON.  13 

known  at  one  romantic  spot,  Pretty  Brook,  a  stream  of  pellucid 
brightness  when  not  troubled  by  rains,  and  that,  as  it  glides 
within  its  tortuous  avenue  of  tall  trees,  whispers  to  itself  le- 
gends of  Revolutionary  battle. 

From  the  heart  of  the  town  itself  there  are  a  number  of  in- 
viting views  commanded  by  those  buildings  which  are  favour- 
ably situated.  One  of  the  best  of  these  cheered  the  eyes  of 
Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  for  forty  years,  as  he  sat  in  his  study 
wrapt  in  thought  but  now  and  then  darted  glances  of  admira- 
tion through  his  south  window.  Another  broad  and  grateful 
prospect  enlivens  both  sides  of  the  main  thoroughfare  where, 
after  penetrating  the  town,  it  goes  on  easterly  towards  Kings- 
ton. 

Still  another  of  these  refreshing  pastoral  landscapes,  though 
in  some  particulars  the  same  with  one  of  those  just  mentioned, 
is  thus  described  by  Professor  James  Alexander  in  his  unpub- 
lished journal  for  Saturday  the  19th  of  May,  1838.  Alluding 
to  his  keen  enjoyment  that  year  of  "  the  placid  rapture  of 
spring,"  he  writes  as  follows  :  "From  my  south  study  window 
the  prospect  is  delightful;  hill,  forest,  field  and  orchard — it 
only  lacks  mountain  and  water.  In  the  background,  Rocky 
Hill  begins  to  show  a  feathery  green  upon  its  thickest  forest. 
On  this  side  and  next  to  it  stripes  of  green  grainfields  ;  and 
still  farther  hitherward,  as  the  ground  slopes  down  toward  the 
large  and  lovely  orchard  just  in  the  richest  bloom !" 

The  street  which  passes  in  front  of  the  College  branches 
some  hundreds  of  yards  beyond  it  to  the  west  into  two  beau- 
tiful village  roads,  which  for  years  have  been  studded  with 
dwellings  and  gardens.  On  one  of  these  is  Morven,  the  seat 
of  the  Stocktons,  adorned  with  the  oldest  of  elms,  catalpas,  and 
walnuts,  and  on  the  other,  under  its  own  ample  summer  shade, 
is  the  Theological  Seminary.  Between  the  two  lie  the  Lenox 
Library,  the  beautified  grounds  of  the  late  John  R.  Thomson, 
Esq.,  and  the  green  turf  and  trim  hemlock  hedges  of  Profes- 
sor Wm.  Henry  Green  ;  while  far  to  the  west  and  some  distance 
beyond  the  borough  limits  are  the  delightful  groves,  parterres, 
and  winding  walks  and  drives  of  Judge  Richard  S.  Field. 


14  THE    COLLEGE.  [1813. 

Of  course  this  description  belongs  to  the  town  and  its  en- 
virons of  to-day,  not  in  all  the  particulars  mentioned,  to  the 
surroundings  of  President  Green. 

If  Princeton  cannot  lay  claim  to  the  rows  of  mighty  elms 
which  have  thrown  their  immemorial  charm  over  New  Haven, 
it  has  nevertheless  an  abundant  shadow  not  only  from  the 
elm  but  from  the  maple,  the  sugar  maple,  the  paper  mulberry, 
the  buttonwood,  and  the  weeping- willow,  with  here  and  there 
a  forlorn  relic  in  the  shape  of  a  half-extinct  Lombardy  poplar. 
In  June  and  July  the  place  is  now  fairly  embowered  in  foliage. 
Its  College  lawns  are  not  greatly  surpassed  in  New  England. 
Its  public  buildings  are  picturesque,  and  on  every  account  well 
deserving  of  attention  at  the  hands  of  the  antiquary  and  the 
scholar.  Its  libraries  are  important  and  costly.  Its  literary 
and  theological  name  has  long  been  honoured  on  both  sides  of 
the  Atlantic.  It  can  show  an  imposing  catalogue  of  Alumni, 
and  can  count  among  its  nursing  fathers  not  only  men  like 
Dickinson,  Burr,  Davies,  Finley,  and  Green,  grave  masters  as 
these  were  of  the  old-time  piety,  learning  and  eloquence,  but 
"that  prodigy  of  metaphysical  acumen,  Jonathan  Edwards,"* 
that  intellectual  giant  and  almost  universal  genius,  Wither- 
spoon,  and  that  scholar  of  magnificent  and  princely  gentleman- 
hood,  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith. f 

The  town  of  Princeton  is  intimately  connected  with  the 
Revolutionary  Annals.  The  President,  Dr.  Witherspoon, 
who  for  obvious  reasons  was  regarded  with  a  peculiar  enmity 
by  the  Royal  army,  fled  from  his  country  home  at  Tusculum, 


*  Robert  Hall  in  the  Sermon  on  Modern  Infidelity. 

f  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith. — "  A  little  later,  we  who  first  saw  these  shades 
in  1812,  recall  the  venenable  form  of  the  President,  as  he  laid  aside  his  symbols 
of  learned  rule  ;  beautiful  and  lordly  in  his  decay,  unsurpassed  in  our  [mem- 
ory] for  perfect  gracefulness  and  a  stateliness  which  had  lost  all  that  was  once 
[considered]  as  pomp.  He  crept  to  the  retirement  where  he  renewed  his  [early 
love]  of  classical  [studies]  with  two  beloved  grandsons,  one  of  whom  has  been 
for  twenty  years  in  Peru.  And  we,  my  beloved  coevals,  of  1819,  joined  in  the 
concourse  which  followed  the  remains  to  the  cemetery,  where  you  have  seen  his 
tomb  which  you  have  visited." — Centennial  Address,  1847. 


iEx.4.]  NASSAU    HALL.  15 

"  taking  only  a  wagon-load  of  his  effects,  and  driving  his  stock 
before  him."  Onthe22dof  July,  of  the  same  year,  two  stories 
of  the  college  were  full  of  Hessian  soldiers.  On  the  1st  of  Jan., 
1777,  Mawhood's  brigade  were  quartered  in  Nassau  Hall,* 
and  made  their  barracks  in  the  dormitories,  using  the  base- 
ment for  their  stables.  Nor  is  this  believed  to  be  the  first 
instance  of  such  outrages.  The  college  lawn  is  said  to  have 
been  covered  with  their  crimson  uniforms.  Washington,  as 
all  the  world  knows,  retreated  from  Trenton,  on  January  the 
2d.  A  little  after  sunrise,  he  exposed  himself  before  the  lines 
at  Stony  Brook.  This  was  the  commencement  of  the  battle 
of  Princeton.  The  Hessians  in  the  college  building  ran  out 
tumultuously  at  the  front  doorways,  on  the  approach  of  the 
American  troops,  and  fell  back  to  New  Brunswick.  The  mark 
of  a  ball  from  one  of  the  American  cannon  was  at  one  time 
to  be  seen  'near  the  projection  of  the  old  Hall.'  Another 
cannon   ball  entered  a  window,  and   struck  the  portrait   of 

*  Nassau  Hall.  This  was  the  name  suggested  for  the  old  college  building 
by  Governor  Belcher,  under  whose  fostering  care  it  was  erected.  His  words  are 
still  preserved.  The  original  thought  was  to  call  it  Belcher  Hall.  The  worthy 
Governor  seems  to  have  been  also  the  first  to  suggest,  and  in  this  very  letter  to 
the  trustees,  in  1756,  the  motto  of  the  Cliosophic  Society.  "  I  take  a  particular 
grateful  notice  of  the  respect  and  honour  you  are  desirous  of  doing  me  and  my 
family,  in  calling  the  edifice  lately  erected  in  Princeton  by  the  name  of  Belcher- 
Hall  ;  but  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  excuse  me,  while  I  absolutely  decline  such 
an  honour,  for  I  have  always  been  very  fond  of  the  motto  of  a  late  great  person- 
age, Prodesse  quam  conspici.  But  I  must  not  leave  this  head  without  asking 
the  favour  of  your  naming  the  present  building  Nassau  Hall ;  and  this  I  hope 
you  will  take  as  a  further  instance  of  my  real  regard  to  the  future  welfare  and 
interest  of  the  college,  as  it  will  express  the  honour  we  retain,  in  this  remote 
part  of  the  globe,  to  the  immortal  memory  of  the  glorious  king  William  the 
Third,  who  was  a  branch  of  the  illustrious  house  of  Nassau.  *  *  *  *  And 
who,  for  the  better  establishment  of  the  true  religion  and  English  liberty, 
brought  forward  an  act  in  the  British  Parliament,  for  securing  the  Crown  of 
Great  Britain  to  the  present  royal  family,  whereby  we  now  become  happy 
under  the  best  of  kings,  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  English  liberty  and  prosperity. 
And  God  Almighty  grant,  we  may  never  want  a  sovereign  from  his  loins  to 
sway  the  British  sceptre  in  righteousness." — Extracted  from  a  slip  of  an  old 
newspaper,  which  is  made  use  of  in  the  Centennial  Address. 


16  REVOLUTIONARY   INCIDENTS.  [1813. 

George  II.,  tearing:  it  from  the  frame,  which  has  since  been 
graced  by  Peale's  full-length  of  Washington,  and  the  death 
of  Mercer.  A  mess  of  the  40th  regiment  of  British  had 
ordered  a  breakfast  in  the  President's  house,  and  were  just 
sitting  down  to  it  when  the  firing  began.  That  breakfast  was 
eaten  with  appetite  by  the  American  officers.  The  college 
became  a  hospital  for  the  wounded,  and  so  continued  to  be 
for  six  or  eight  months.  During  these  bewildering  changes, 
the  old  Hall  was  sadly  knocked  to  pieces.  Every  perishable 
part  of  the  structure  was  destroyed.  "The  wood- work  was 
used  for  fuel,  and  the  apparatus,  including  Rittenhouse's 
orrery,  was  demolished  or  injured."  There  is  still  in  the 
space  to  the  rear  of  the  old  college,  and  in  the  very  centre 
of  the  enclosure  formed  by  the  ancient  edifice  and  the  new 
buildings,  a  thirty-two  pounder  left  by  the  British  in  their 
fright,  which  was  abandoned  by  Washington  "  on  account  of 
its  carriage  being  broken."  There  is,  of  course,  a  legend  con- 
nected with  this  old  piece. 

The  Continental  troops  occupied  the  college  as  barracks 
till  about  the  fifteenth  of  June  of  the  same  year,  and  as  an 
hospital,  from  the  first  of  October  till  the  twenty-third  of 
November  of  the  year  following.  The  church  was  repeatedly 
desecrated,  being  occupied  continually  "  by  every  party  pass- 
mg." 

After  this,  Dr.  Witherspoon  granted  two  rooms  to  the 
tailors  of  the  Jersey  Brigade.  The  grant  expii*ed,  or  the 
tailors  yielded  their  claim,  some  time  in  April,  1780.  "The 
college  was  entirely  disbanded,  and  all  regular  business  was 
interrupted  for  two  or  three  years."  *  The  Congress  met  in 
Princeton  in  1783.  A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Green, 
D.  D.  (afterwards  President  of  the  College),  to  his  father,  dated 
Nassau  Hall,  5th  of  July,  1783,  gives  a  bright  and  cheerful 
glimpse  of  the  place  as  it  was  at  that  day.  "  The  face  of  things 
is  inconceivably  altered  in  Princeton  within  a  fortnight. 
From  a  little  obscure  village  we  have  become  the  capital  of 

*  In  the  above  narrative  I  have  made  free  use  of  the  Centennial  Address, 
and  other  sources  of  information. 


uEt.4.j  REVOLUTIONARY    INCIDENTS.  17 

America.  Instead  of  almost  total  silence  in  the  town,  nothing 
is  to  be  seen  or  heard  but  the  passing  and  rattling  of  wagons, 
coaches,  and  chairs,  the  crying  about  of  pine-apples,  oranges, 
lemons,  and  every  luxurious  article  both  foreign  and  domestic." 
The  Congress  papers,  which  had  all  been  lodged  in  college, 
amounted  to  about  five  or  seven  wagon-load.  The  members 
sat  from  11  to  3.  The  day  before,  he  had  had  "  the  honour  of 
delivering  a  declamation  before  them  on  the  dangers  and 
advantages  of  Republican  government."  After  which  he 
received  an  invitation  to  dine  Avith  them.  "Dinner  besran 
about  6  o'clock.  It  was  a  public  occasion — all  the  Congress, 
foreign  ministers,  and  gentlemen,  with  the  faculty  of  the  col- 
lege, and  some  gentlemen  of  the  town,  to  the  amount  of  70  or 
80,  were  present."  In  the  evening  sky-rockets  and  a  variety 
of  fireworks  were  displayed,  and  were  repeated  on  the  evening 
of  the  day  on  which  he  wrote.  At  one  o'clock  a  salute  of 
thirteen  guns  was  fired  in  the  front  Campus.  After  dinner 
the  President  gave  out  as  many  toasts,  each  of  which  was 
accompanied  by  a  discharge  of  artillery.  "I  retired  to  my 
chamber  about  9  o'clock."  * 

One  of  the  matters  that  was  engaging  the  attention  of 
this  important  body, was  a  proposal  from  a  gentleman  of  Vir- 
vinia  to  exhibit  "  a  method  of  working  a  boat  of  twenty  tons 
burden  by  the  force  of  machines,  with  only  one  man,  with- 
out sails,  against  the  tide,  so  that  it  shall  run  eight  miles  in 
an  hour;  with  the  tide  twelve  miles  in  an  hour." 

Princeton,  on  account  of  its  salubrious  air,  has  been  hap- 
j)ily  styled  the  Montpellier  of  America.f  It  is  the  seat  of  one 
of  the  oldest  institutions  of  academic  learning  in  the  country, 
and  also  of  the  most  celebrated  of  the  distinctively  Presbyte- 
rian schools  of  theology.  In  addition  to  the  charm  of  the  land- 
scape gardening,  and  of  the  surrounding  scenery  of  nature,  it 
could  always  boast  a  considerable  number  of  highly  cultivated 


*  Culled  from  a  slip  of  the  "Daily  News,"  which  is  given  entire  in  the 
Centennial  Address. 

f  By  Dr.  Witherspoon.     See  Life  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  p.  385. 


18  THIRST    FOR    KNOWLEDGE.  [1815. 

men  and  women  and  attractive  households.  But  the  noblest 
part  of  Princeton,  after  all,  as  many  love  to  think,  lies  sleep- 
ing in  its  venerable  graveyard,  where,  enclosed  within  massive 
walls  and  shadowed  by  giant  trees,  repose  the  ashes  of  nearly 
all  the  former  college  Presidents,  and  of  Dod  and  other  col- 
lege professors  ;  as  well  as  Samuel  Miller,  Archibald  Alexan- 
der, James  Waddel  Alexandei',  and  now,  amidst  the  verdure 
of  nine  years,  of  Joseph  Addison  Alexander,  of  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary.  Whatever  may  happen  to  the  rest  of  Prince- 
ton, it  may  be  safely  said  of  the  old  cemetery  on  Wither- 
spoon  street,  that  it  will  continue  to  grow  green  with  precious 
and  hallowed  remembrances,  even  as  now,  "  incontaminatis 
honoribus  reful«;et." 

After  the  removal  to  Princeton,  Addison  made  brave  ad- 
vances. His  proficiency  in  study,  and  the  ease  and  exactness 
with  which  he  mastered  the  elements  of  knowledge,  were 
almost  incredible.  It  is  impossible  to  point  to  the  time  when 
he  did  not  know  his  letters.  He  soon  learned  to  read,  under 
the  tuition  of  a  young  lady  then  resident  in  the  family,  who 
has  since  that  time  been  made  a  widow,  and  is  believed  to  be 
now  living  in  Texas.  Once  possessed  of  this  delightful  and 
invaluable  art,  his  appetite  for  books  became  perfectly  insa- 
tiable. He  was  never  at  rest.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  was 
unquenchable  and  constant.  He  hungered  after  his  intellec- 
tual pabulum  as  a  carnivorous  animal  hungers  after  his  prey. 
His  eyes  never  wearied  in  the  attempt  to  decypher  unaccus- 
tomed characters.  The  strangeness  of  a  foreign  language 
was  no  invincible  obstacle  in  his  path.  He  would  get  hold  of 
an  old  grammar,  or  part  of  a  grammar,  or  else  make  one  for 
himself  that  would  answer  for  the  nonce ;  he  would  disinter 
from  a  heap  of  waste  paper  and  forgotten  volumes  some  ven- 
erable dictionary,  with  the  back  gone  and  many  of  the  leaves 
torn  out  or  hopelessly  defaced,  or  in  lieu  of  that  he  would 
store  his  mind  with  the  new  vocabulary  as  he  went  along. 
In  this  way  he  soon  learned  to  knock  a  language  to  pieces, 
resolve  it  into  its  structural  parts,  and  examine  its  hidden 
machinery ;  and  all  this  he  did  with  a  vehemence  of  impulse 


Mr.  6.]  LOVE    OF    BOOKS.  19 

and  a  rapidity  of  "work  that  must  have  been  very  startling  to 
the  other  boys,  and  was  sufficiently  surprising  to  all  who  were 
in  any  measure  acquainted  with  his  habits.  But  most  of  these 
efforts  were  put  forth  in  solitude,  and  he  did  not  care  to  speak 
of  them  to  a  living  soul.  Some  of  the  facts  here  mentioned 
did  not  come  to  lis;ht  till  Ions;  afterwards. 

He  was  at  this  time,  in  all  strictness  of  speech,  what  is 
called  an  omnivorous  reader.  He  read  literally  every  thing 
that  fell  in  his  way.  This  was  one  of  his  characteristics  in 
after-life.  Though  he  often  checked  himself  in  the  indulgence 
of  a  taste  for  general  literature,  the  propensity  was  always 
strong.  Though  he  had  habituated  himself  to  the  most  se- 
vere  and  rigid  courses  of  study,  he  did  not  disdain  to  read 
the  smallest  newspaper,  or  even  the  almanac.  I  have  often 
heard  him  say,  in  response  to  a  question  about  some  par- 
ticular book  of  travels,  then  just  out,  that  "  all  books  of  travel 
were  interesting  to  him."  Though  at  all  times  a  recluse,  sup- 
posed to  be  conversant  only  with  what  was  in  books,  the  say- 
ing of  Terence  was  applicable  to  him,  and  not  only  in  regard 
to  books,  but  in  reference  to  every  thing  else,  humani  nihil 
alienuin.  He  would  look  out  of  his  open  window,  as  he  gaily 
turned  the  huge  leaves  of  his  folios  at  Princeton,  and  see  more 
of  human  nature  in  an  hour  than  some  men  would  see  in  a 
twelvemonth.     But  I  am  anticipating. 

At  the  time  I  speak  of,  there  were  in  the  garret  in  his 
father's  house  certain  old  worthless  books,  that  had  been 
thrown  away  with  other  rubbish,  and  had  many  of  them 
passed  entirely  out  of  recollection.  There  the  boyish  scholar 
would  sit  for  hours  together  devouring  the  contents  of  these 
volumes.  Among  the  works  thus  read  was  an  old  romance 
called  "  The  Midnight  Bell,"  a  book  full  of  horrors  and 
mysteries.  He  used  often  to  speak  with  zest  in  after  years,  of 
the  terror  with  which  he  Q-lc-ated  over  the  dark  and  bloodv 
revelations  of  this  story,  in  the  silence,  solitude,  and  gloom  of 
that  unfinished  and  unfurnished  attic. 

There  was  an  odd  mingling  in  him  of  the  solitary  and  social 
tendencies.     From  early  childhood  he  showed  a  disposition  to 


20  RAPID    GllOWTH.  [1815. 

communicate  his  stores  of  knowledge  to  others.  When  about 
six  years  old,  it  was  his  daily  custom  to  repair  alter  the 
evening  meal  to  the  kitchen,  and  read  aloud  to  an  aged  black 
woman  who  was  cook  in  the  family,  from  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  stopping  every  now  and  then  to  explain  and  com- 
ment as  he  went  along.  This  may  be  said  to  have  been  his 
first  exegetical  exercise,  as  well  as  his  coup  d'essai  as  an  ex- 
temporaneous orator ;  and  visitors  were  sometimes  taken  to 
the  door  which  separated  the  kitchen  from  the  apartments  of 
the  family,  and  would  stand  there,  as  if  riveted  to  the  spot, 
listening  to  the  boy-interpreter,  amazed  at  the  display  of  so 
wonderful  a  talent  for  language  and  exposition  in  a  mere  child. 

At  a  period  somewhat  later  he  became  possessed  of  a  copy 
of  Miss  Edgeworth's  Tales  of  Fashionable  Life,  and  grow- 
ing deeply  interested  in  them,  he  was  not  satisfied  until  he 
had  read  them  aloud  to  another  old  black  woman,  who  had 
succeeded  his  first  pupil  in  the  culinary  department  of  the 
household. 

His  advancement  in  learning  was  now  progressively  rapid. 
It  seems  to  have  resembled  the  quick  but  regular  and  healthy 
budding-out  of  vernal  plants  during  a  favourable  season.  It 
was  no  hot-house  vegetation  that  was  thus  maturing.  There 
was  no  forcing  of  the  natural  processes.  The  ripening  change 
that  was  going  on  was  normal — spontaneous — joyous — and  at 
the  same  time  uninterrupted  and  sure.  The  growth  of  the 
human  mind  is  always  a  surprising  and  edifying  study.  The 
process  is  carried  on  while  men  sleep.  There  is  something 
apparently  automatic  about  it.  The  seed  cometh  up  of  itself, 
the  observer  knoweth  not  how.  The  movement  is  conducted 
through  a  variety  of  stages,  "  first  the  blade — then  the  ear — 
after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear."  Great  geniuses  do  not  seem 
to  be  exempt  from  this  universal  law.  The  mightiest  scholars 
have  had  to  begin  with  the  alphabet.  Pascal  rediscovers 
without  assistance,  and  in  childhood,  the  mysteries  of  geom- 
etry, but  he  has  to  proceed  like  other  mortals,  step  by  step 
from  the  definitions  ;  and  his  attainments  are  successive,  and 
in  the  order  prescribed  by  the  experience  of  ages  as  a  neces- 


^Et.C]  beginnings  in  LATIN.  21 

sity  of  the  human  intellect.  But  in  the  case  of  these  pene- 
trating and  comprehensive  minds  the  rate  of  progress  is 
increased  indefinitely,  and  the  results  are  sometimes  so  mar- 
vellous as  to  appear  incredible.  Such  an  one  was  Joseph 
Addison  Alexander.  As  soon  as  he  was  able  to  understand 
the  meaning  of  English  words  his  father  began  to  teach  him 
Latin.  His  habit  was  to  write  out  for  him  each  day  a  number 
of  Latin  words  on  a  slip  of  paper,  with  the  meanings  in  Eng- 
lish, and  make  him  commit  them  to  memory.  The  same  plan 
was  pursued  with  his  other  sons,  and  subsequently  with  his 
grandsons.  It  was  not  long  before  Addison  had  thus  com- 
mitted a  thousand  of  these  Latin  vocables.  In  due  course  of 
time  the  number  had  amounted  to  many  thousands.  This  was 
the  foundation  of  that  enormous  vocabulary  which  was  after- 
wards to  be  of  such  incalculable  service  to  the  commentator 
on  Isaiah,  on  the  Psalms,  on  the  Acts,  on  Mark,  and  on  Mat- 
thew, and  the  remote  origin  of  that  classical  scholarship  which 
shines  with  no  dim  or  uncertain  lustre  in  every  page  of  his 
somewhat  voluminous  writings.  It  is  instructive  to  notice 
here  that  the  same  method  precisely  of  commencing  the  acquisi- 
tion of  a  new  language  was  followed  by  the  polyglot-Car- 
dinal Mezzofanti,*  who  afterwards  so  much  excited  his  mar- 
velling curiosity,  f 

The  chosen  playmate  and  most  intimate  friend  of  James 
Alexander,  was  Edward  Kirk,  now  the  Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk, 
D.  D.,  of  Boston.  Dr.  Kirk  has  "no  distinct  recollections  of 
Addison  beyond  some  very  minor  points."  His  shyness  and 
quietness,  his  studiousness  and  gentleness,  embrace  the  sub- 
stance of  his  image  as  it  hangs  on  the  walls  of  his  fancy. 
"  The  only  external  fact  I  can  recall,  is  his  walking  about 
while  James  and  I  were  playing  ;  he  wTith  a  little  card  in  his 
hand,  on  which  his  father  had  printed  a  list  of  Latin  words 
with  their  English  equivalents,  to  be  committed  to  memory." 
Thus  it  was  that  the  happy  linguist  began  to  train  that  quick 

*  See  his  Life,  by  President  Russell,  of  Maynootfa. 

f  In  one  of  his  later  letters  to  his  brother  James,  he  pronounces  the  Italian 
linguist  "  a  marvel." 


22  INTRODUCTION    TO    HEBREW.  [1819. 

and  retentive  faculty,  which  in  later  life  enabled  him  to  call 
up  at  will  almost  any  thing  he  had  ever  treasured  in  his  mind. 
It  is  easy  to  picture  the  stout  little  fellow,  with  his  bright 
affectionate  face,  and  cheeks  like  lady-apples,  and  his  alternate 
fits  of  studious  abstraction  and  uncontrollable  liveliness.  He 
was  the  delight  and  pride  of  the  house. 

But  the  young  scholar  was  now  to  enter  a  new  and  bound- 
less field  for  his  exertions.  He  was  to  break  the  lock  from 
the  Semitic  tongues,  and  to  obtain  an  easy  mastery  over 
several  of  the  lanp-uaoes  of  the  Orient.  As  soon  as  he  was 
six  years  old,  or  thereabouts,  his  father  wrote  out  for  him  in 
the  same  manner  as  before,  the  Hebrew  alphabet,  of  which 
the  little  philologist  soon  possessed  himself,  and  thus  laid  the 
groundwork  of  his  subsequent  proficiency  in  that  and  kindred 
languages.  At  a  somewhat  later  period,  the  same  kind  and 
capable  hand  prepared  for  him  a  Hebrew  grammar,  adapted 
to  his  years,  which  manuscript  was  carefully  preserved  by  the 
youthful  Hebraist,  and  was  in  his  possession  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  That  old  manuscript  Hebrew  grammar,  in  the  well- 
known  handwriting  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  is  now  one 
of  the  family  treasures.  The  title-page  of  that  grammar  is  now 
before  me,  and  reads  as  follows  : 

"HEBREW"  GRAMMAR, 

WITH  THE  POINTS, 

Translated  from  Leusden's 

Compend  of  Buxtorf, 

for  Joseph  Addison  Alexander. 


Princeton,  New  Jersey, 

A.   D.   1819." 

This  date  furnishes  us  with  pretty  exact  information  as  to 
the  time  when  he  commenced  the  regular  study  of  Hebrew. 
It  was  when  he  was  just  ten  years  old.  He  could  read  the 
letters  almost  as  soon  as  he  could  read  English.  What  extra- 
ordinary advances  he  afterwards  made,  in  this  and  cognate 
languages,  we  shall  presently  have  occasion  to  notice. 


Mi.  10.]  OTHER    ORIENTAL    LANGUAGES.  23 

Little  Addison  taught  himself  to  write,  and  was  able  to  do 
so  before  the  family  were  aware  of  it.  He  soon  acquired  that 
firm,  beautiful  hand,  with  which  his  friends  are  so  familiar. 

An  extract  from  a  letter  from  his  father,  to  his  aunt,  Mrs. 
Graham,  dated  July  22,  1817,  gives  an  exact  view  of  what  he 
was  at  this  time  : 

"  Addison  is  also  learning  Latin,  and  greatly  exceeds  all  our  other 
children  in  capacity.  He  does  not  equal  James  in  quickness,  nor  Wil- 
liam in  memory ;  but  in  the  clearness  of  liis  ideas,  and  his  steady  at- 
tention to  whatever  he  undertakes  to  study,  he  is  greatly  superior  to 
them  both.  He  has  written  several  poems,  but  they  are  not  worth 
sending  so  far." 

The  following  account* by  one  who  was  the  teacher  who 
prepared  him  for  college,  is  almost  literally  correct,  bxit  Addi- 
son began  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  and  perhaps  Persian  and 
Syriac,  at  least  two  years  before  the  date  of  his  connection 
with  that  gentleman  as  a  pupil : 

""Whilst  pursuing  his  studies  with  me,  Addison  (or 'Addy,' as  the 
boys  called  him)  commenced  studying  by  himself  the  Hebrew  language, 
and  had  made  considerable  progress  in  the  Arabic  before  he  entered 
College.  I  am  not  aware  that  he  had  at  that  early  period  of  his  life 
done  much  with  the  modern  languages.  In  after  years  his  acquisitions 
of  both  ancient  and  modern  languages  included  nearly  every  one  that 
is  really  worth  learning.  The  Hebrew,  with  the  cognate  languages 
and  dialects,  he  mastered  when  he  was  quite  a  young  man.  French, 
German,  Italian,  and  other  modern  languages  he  next  learned,  includ- 
ing even  the  Turkish.  The  last  languages  which  he  acquired  were  the 
Danish  and  Coptic.  What  is  wonderful  about  his  linguistic  attain- 
ments, they  were  in  many  cases  made  purely  for  the  sake  of  the  litera- 
ture, (poetry,  &c.,)  which  they  contained." 

This  is  an  anticipation  of  disclosures  that  will  be  more 
fully  made  in  the  sequel. 

For  the  sake  of  giving  a  glimpse  of  what  was  going  on  at 
Princeton  about  this  time,  I  insert  here  the  following  extracts 
of  a  letter  from  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  to  one  of  his  wife's 
relatives  in  Virginia,  which  was  written  when  Addison  was 

*  la  the  Presbyterian  of  November  5th,  1853. 


24  PRINCETON    UNDER   DR.   GREEN.  [1819. 

ten  years  and  one  month  old,  and  which  has  never  before 
been  published.  The  whole  letter  exhibits  much  of  the  shrewd 
discernment  of  human  nature,  and  knowledge  of  what  was 
passing  around  him,  which  so  distinguished  this  venerable 
man,  and  contributed  so  much  to  his  character  for  wisdom. 
We  may  also  see  in  this  simple  and  homely  letter  the  traces 
of  his  amiable  feeling  towards  all,  and  of  his  affectionate  dis- 
position towards  those  with  whom  he  was  nearly  connected. 

"Peixceton,  May  2Qth,  1819. 

"  Dear 

"Yours  was  received  the  day  before  yesterday.  Since  I  wrote 
before,  nothing  worthy  of  notice  has  occurred  among  us.  Mr.  Men- 
teith  arrived  here  last  evening,  on  bis  way  borne  from  a  long  Southern 
tour,  which  be  took  to  solicit  money  for  building  a  church  in  Detroit. 
Mr.  Rice  and  his  wife  are  in  Philadelphia,  but  I  have  not  been  there, 
nor  do  I  expect  to  go  there,  as  I  understand  that  they  will  not  extend 
their  visit  to  this  place.  Mr.  Eice  is  the  Moderator  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, and  preached  an  admired  Missionary  sermon  last  Sunday  even- 
ing.   Dr.  Hill  and  Mr.  Wilson  of  Fredericksburg  were  also  there. 

"  I  have  this  morning  seen  a  letter  from  Armstrong.  He  appears 
much  engaged  in  his  work,  and  very  much  pleased.  He  says  he  would 
not  exchange  his  situation  as  a  poor  missionary  at  present,  for  the  best 
congregation  in  the  land.  Peters  has  gone  to  the  Northeast.  Hunter 
is  licensed  and  preaching  in  this  State,  under  the  commission  of  the 
Female  Missionary  Society  of  this  town. 

"  The  Seminary,  for  the  last  week,  has  been  nearly  de?erted.  Pierce, 
Wisner,  and  Davies  were  the  only  persons  seen  about  it.  Wisner  is  a 
fine  fellow. 

"  William  *  has  entered  the  Sophomore  class  half  advanced.  I  had 
no  idea  that  he  would  be  admitted,  but  he  insisted  on  trying,  and 
waited  nearly  three  days  to  be  examined.  I  neither  went  with  him  nor 
sent  note  or  message  to  the  faculty;  but  when  he  was  introduced  he 
acquitted  himself  in  a  way  so  masterly  that  Dr.  Green  was  delighted, 
and  told  him  he  had  never  admitted  any  one  with  more  pleasure  in  his 
life,  and  spoke  of  his  elegant  examination  to  the  gentlemen  who  were 
in  his  house." 

Addison's  early  education  was  almost  entirely  domestic, 

*  His  second  son. 


Mr.  10.]  PASSION   FOR    MUSIC.  25 

for  though  before  entering  college  he  attended  a  variety  of 
schools,  in  which  all  the  usual  branches  were  taught,  he  was 
up  to  the  time  of  his  entering  these  schools  under  the  sole 
tuition  of  his  father,  to  whom  he  owed  more,  even  in  the  way 
of  mere  learning,  than  to  any  other  living  man.  Nor  is  it  too 
much  to  say,  that  at  the  time  he  entered  the  first  of  these 
schools,  Addison  if  judged  by  the  ordinary  standard  had  al- 
ready "  received  his  education."  This  is  a  somewhat  precari- 
ous assertion,  but  I  hope  to  be  able  to  show  in  the  sequel,  that 
at  the  time  Addison  entered  school  he  was  in  point  of  scholar- 
ship in  advance  of  many  when  they  leave  college,  and  are  said 
to  be  "  educated  men." 

It  is  difficult  to  say,  we  can  only  reasonably  conjecture, 
in  what  relative  order  his  remarkable  powers  first  gave  ev> 
dence  of  their  existence,  or  what  was  the  secret  history  of 
their  successive  or  simultaneous  appearances  and  steady  and 
symmetrical  development.  He  early  showed  a  love  of,  and  a 
taste  and  talent  for  music,  and  had  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
cultivation  of  this  gift,  it  is  the  opinion  of  one  who  was  fully 
acquainted  with  the  facts  at  the  time,  a  contemporary  and 
chosen  play-mate,  and  who  is  himself  by  no  means  insensible 
to  the  "  concord  of  sweet  sounds,"  that  he  would  have  become 
as  eminent  in  this  department  as  he  was  in  that  to  which  he 
applied  himself.  This  is  saying  a  great  deal.  The  expert 
commentator  had  certainly  a  fine  ear  for  music. 

There  had  long  been  lying  about  his  father's  house  an  old 
bamboo  cane  or  staff.  This  staff  was  hollow,  and  had  been 
perforated  with  holes  as  a  flute.  It  also  had  a  coarse  common 
key.  When  about  ten  years  old  he  took  up  this  old  cane  flute, 
and  upon  it  began  to  play.  He  studied  and  copied  music,  and 
learned  it  systematically.  After  practising  for  some  time  in 
this  way,  he  was  presented  with  a  small  octave  flute,  which 
after  a  i'e\r  years  was  succeeded  by  a  large  one. 

He  became  a  proficient  on  the  instrument,  and  for  many 
years  the  use  of  the  flute  was  his  favourite  recreation. 

One  of  my  first  recollections  is  seeing  him  with  a  yellow 
flute  in  his  hand  or  at  his  lips.  He  often  played  in  my  hear- 
2 


26  EUROPEAN    AND    AMERICAN    CHOIRS.  [1819. 

ing,  during  my  early  boyhood,  but  it  was  for  bis  own  amuse- 
ment, not  mine.  He  preferred  being  alone  on  these  occasions, 
and  then  I  dare  say  his  delectation  was  often  great.  He  ren- 
dered simple  and  melodious  airs  with  what  afterwards  struck 
me  as  perfect  accuracy  and  much  sweetness.  I  never  heard 
him  attempt  any  thing  hard,  but  on  the  other  hand  I  never 
heard  him  attempt  any  thing  which  he  did  not  execute  with 
consummate  ease.  His  brother  James  was  himself  a  delight- 
ful amateur  flute-player.  I  never  heard  the  two  brdihers  play- 
ins;  in  the  same  room. 

Among  the  pieces  thus  melodiously  rendered  by  the 
younger  brother,  was  an  affecting  air  which  I  shall  always 
associate  with  an  Arabic  song,  about  a  rose,  which  he  was 
accustomed  to  sing  to  it.  His  voice  was  a  high  tenor,  and 
plaintively  sweet  without  being  strong.  He  was  fond  of  sing- 
ing hymns,  understood  the  mystery  of  "  notes,"  and  once 
pointed  out  to  me  a  new  tune,  which  has  rung  in  my  ears 
ever  since.  I  also  remember  his  song  of  the  scales*  and  one 
of  the  tunes  sung  by  his  ghosts.f  His  European  journals  are 
full  of  allusions  to  the  chants  and  chorals  and  masses  he  went 
to  hear,  but  in  these  foreign  diaries  (which  were  designed  to 
be  a  mere  record  of  facts)  he  has,  for  the  most  part,  sedu- 
lously suppressed  all  outbursts  of  feeling.  When  he  was  in 
the  mood  for  it,  he  would  talk  with  enthusiasm  of  music  he 
bad  listened  to  with  rapture  in  London,  in  the  chapels  of  the 
English  Universities,  in  Strasbourg,  in  Berlin,  in  Rome.  He 
heard  a  boy  at  Cambridge  who  "  had  a  voice  like  an  an  angel." 
But  of  all  he  ever  heard  he  spoke  with  greatest  admiration 
of  the  effect  of  a  great  number  of  priests'  voices,  accompanied 
by  the  organ,  that  on  one  occasion  almost  overpowered  him, 
if  I  mistake  not,  at  Rome.  He  sometimes  affected  to  know 
nothing,  and  care  nothing  about  music.  This  was  his  humour. 
He  despised  the  poor  American  imitations  of  the  Old-World 
ritualism.  He  had  a  certain  Aesthetic  sympathy  with  the  gor- 
geous cathedral  service  of  the  Old  World.     For  the  florid 

*  A  pretty  tune  bringing  in  the  eight  notes. 

f  These  ghosts  were  characters  in  some  of  his  stories. 


Mt.10.1      INFLUENCE  OF  THIS  TASTE  ON  HIS  SERMONS.  27 

and  effeminate  church  music  of  the  New  World  he  had  none. 
He  loved  the  plain  old  tunes,  and  regarded  the  old-fashioned 
congregational  psalm-singing  as  the  true  way  to  worship 
God.  He  was  sometimes  irritated  hy  the  fastidious  perti- 
nacity of  choirs,  and  never  could  understand  the  importance 
of  "  having  the  hymns."  Yet  he  never  failed  in  courtesy 
towards  the  musical  gentlemen  who  solicited  this  slight  hut 
sometimes  annoying  compliance.  He  would  say  goodna- 
turedly  enough  that  the  choristers  who  were  most  particular 
about  "having  the  hymns"  could  do  best  without  them,  and 
that  he  had  noticed  that  the  singing  was  always  better  where 
the  hymns  wrere  not  given.  He  probably  meant  in  this  deli- 
cate way  to  express  a  preference  for  the  time-honoured  tunes 
which  are  so  apt  to  be  lost  sight  of  in  the  prevailing  lust  for 
novelty  and  for  music  such  as  is  heard  on  week-days  in  the 
theatre  or  at  the  opera-house. 

Some  of  the  most  impassioned  pages  in  his  printed  ser- 
mons are  strongly  coloured  by  his  native  fondness  for  sweet 
voices  and  majestic  harmonies.  His  imprinted  sermons  con- 
tain, perhaps,  an  equal  quantity  of  this  sort  of  writing,  in 
which  (especially  near  the  close  of  the  discourse),  as  by  an 
accumulation  of  all  his  gifts  and  attainments  toward  a  com- 
mon centre,  he  makes  painting,  architecture,  music,  poetry, 
learning,  genius — all  he  knew,  all  he  imagined,  all  he  felt,  all 
he  was,  do  tribute  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  or  else  shed  a  blaze 
of  light  on  the  joys  or  sorrows,  the  terrors  or  the  glories  of 
the  eternal  world.  He  exulted  in  the  deep,  mystei'ious,  yet 
glorious  organ-tones  of  the  Revelation,  reverberating  as  from 
afar  wTith  the  roll  of  tumultuous  waters.  He  actually 
seemed  to  have  caught  the  sound  of  the  "  harpers  harping 
with  their  harps,"  and  the  swelling  cadence  of  that  song, 
which  peals  like  successive  strokes  of  thunder  through  the 
Apocalypse,  "  Alleluia,  for  the  Lord,  God,  omnipotent 
reigneth." 

His  imagination  was  from  the  first  rich  and  vivid,  and 
it  is  hardly  a  figure  of  speech  to  say  that  in  his  solitary  hours 
he  erected  many  an  airy  castle  in  the  clouds,  fought  many  a 


28  IMAGINATION    AND    FANCY.  [1819. 

visionary  fight,  and  attended  many  an  illustrious  but  unreal 
audience  on  cloth-of-2;old.  There  can  be  no  doubt  what- 
ever,  from  the  weight  of  authentic  tradition  on  this  subject, 
that  as  a  boy  Addison  was  a  true  child  of  genius,  a  dreamer 
of  chivalrous  and  stately  dreams,  a  hearer  of  voices  and  a 
beholder  of  faces  and  actions  such  as  can  be  conjured  up  by 
no  sorcery  of  earthly  enchantment.  He  thus  created  for  him- 
self an  imaginary  world  in  whose  fantastic  but  exquisite  and 
varied  enjoyments  he  continually  revelled.  The  love  of  the 
preternatural  and  the  intellectual  exerted  a  joint  sovereignty 
over  his  childish  feelings.     He  could  say  with  Shelley*: 

"  While  yet  a  boy,  I  sought  for  ghosts,  and  sped 
Through  many  a  listening  chamber,  cave  and  ruin, 
And  starlit  wood,  with  fearful  steps  pursuing 
Hopes  of  high  talk  with  the  departed  dead." 

But  in  all  this  there  does  not  seem  to  have  been  a  particle 
of  what  is  called  absence  of  mind.f  These  reveries,  if  such 
they  could  be  called,  were  indulged  in  solitude — never  in  the 
company  of  others.  Moreover,  during  their  continuance,  the 
mind  was  ever  present  and  intensely  active.  Sometimes, 
especially  as  he  grew  older,  the  imaginary  scene  merely 
afforded  field  and  play  to  his  common  sense — his  ingenuity — 
his  laughing  wit  and  humour — the  heartiness  and  vivacity  of 
his  animal  spirits.  This  was  his  sport — his  recreation.  For 
he  too  had  his  hours  of  mental  relaxation,  though  he  spent 
them  very  differently  from  his  fellows  of  his  own  age.  It 
was  characteristic  of  him  that  he  found  pleasure  in  what 
would  have  been  to  others  nothing  but  toil.  With  him  duty 
and  satisfaction  ran  in  couples.  As  a  lad  at  school,  he  seems 
to  have  been  nearly  always  in  good  spirits.  He  made  every 
thing  around  him  conducive  to  his  enjoyment,  and  while  unre- 
mittingly engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge,  was  as  bright, 
joyous,  and  perfectly  happy  a  boy  as  the  sun  ever  shone  on. 

*  Hymn  to  Intellectual  Beauty. 

f  This  is  in  some  measure  an  inference  from  his  later  life.  He  was  the 
least  absent-minded  man  I  ever  knew,  and  has  scourged  this  infirmity  in  his 
discourse  on  the  text,  "  Watch." 


■fflT.10.]  INTELLECTUAL   AMUSEMENTS.  29 

Solomon  tells  the  sluggard  to  go  to  the  ant,  for  a  lesson 
in  diligence,  and  the  improvident  man  to  go  to  the  bee  for  a 
lesson  in  wisdom.  This  wonderful  boy  probably  stood  in 
little  need  of  instruction  from  these  sources,  but  there  was 
another  species  of  animals,  the  fowls,  to  which  he  loved  to 
repair  for  his  diversion.  A  large  number  of  chickens  on  the 
place  were  called  into  requisition  to  minister  to  his  enjoyment. 
He  gave  to  each  a  name,  and  organized  them  into  a  "  chicken- 
college."  *  He  arranged  them  in  classes,  and  printed  in  his 
fair  round  hand  a  catalogue  of  the  matriculates.  He  also 
devised,  and  issued  in  the  same  way,  a  curriculum  of  study 
which  they  were  supposed  to  be  pursuing.  He  conducted 
imaginary  examinations,  and  published  the  names  of  those 
who  were  proficient  in  each  department.  He  would  announce 
public  exercises — oratorical  exhibitions,  &c,  prepare  bills  of 
the  same,  and  publish  accounts  of  the  performances.  He  would 
announce  annual  commencements,  put  forth  programmes, 
and  give  reports  of  what  occurred  on  these  festive  occa- 
sions. In  all  this  there  was  the  same  completeness  of  plan 
and  the  same  scrupulous  nicety  and  finish  of  detail,  which 
marked  every  thing  he  ever  did.  In  this  innocent  way  would 
he  spend  hours  of  leisure  which  most  boys  would  have  devoted 
to  pure  idleness  or  even  mischief.  In  company  with  the 
brother  immediately  older  than  himself,  he  would  on  holidays 
or  when  not  engaged  in  study,  go  to  a  room  where  they  would 
not  be  interrupted,  or  to  a  secluded  part  of  the  grounds,  and 
would  there  organize  with  him  a  sort  of  moot-court,  (the  two 
acting  alternately  as  judge  and  advocate,)  and  would  imagine 
causes,  civil  and  criminal,  argue  cases,  harangue  and  charge 
unseen  juries,  and  render  verdicts,  or  give  judicial  opinions. 
A  favoui-ite  amusement  was  indicting  and  trying  a  black  boy 
named  Ned,  a  servant  in  the  family.  Sometimes  they  would 
erect  themselves  into  a  congress  and  declaim  on  topics  of 
public  interest,  and  in  this  way  entire  mornings  and  after- 
noons were  not  unfrequently  consumed,  the  sessions  sometimes 

*  He  afterwards  amused  some  of  his  little  friends  among  the  children  in 
the  same  way. 


30  THE    BOYISH    ORATOR.  [1820. 

lasting  uninterruptedly  for  many  successive  hours.  The  usual 
arena  for  these  intellectual  contests  was  a  chosen  place  at  the 
back  of  the  garden.  Here  they  would  resort  and  "  speechify  " 
till  the  sun  had  visibly  and  greatly  changed  its  place  in  the 
heavens.  These  legal  and  senatorial  efforts  were  no  ignoble 
training  for  a  life  of  oratory.  The  brother  *  who  shared  with 
the  soi-disant  advocate  and  politician  in  these  entertainments, 
testifies  that  any  readiness  in  public  speaking,  any  knack  of 
prompt  reply,  any  appearance  of  self-possession  in  embarrass- 
ing circumstances,  and  any  facility  in  adapting  words,  acts, 
and  circumstances  to  the  occasion,  and  pressing  them  into  his 
service,  which  have  stood  him  in  stead  during  a  long  and 
active  professional  and  public  life,  he  ascribes  to  these  early 
intellectual  and  forensic  efforts,  taken  up,  as  they  were,  at  the 
time  as  a  mere  matter  of  amusement.  Sometimes  the  two 
boys,  both  of  them  being  gifted  with  remarkable  powers  of 
memory  and  fluency,  would  personate  the  different  professions 
and  callings  in  life ;  they  would  be  lawyers,  doctors,  merchants, 
mechanics,  officers  civil  and  military,  etc.,  etc,  and  would 
carry  on  dialogues,  sometimes  grave,  sometimes  gay,  for  hours. 
It  was  to  be  expected  that  one  so  richly  endowed  with 
poetic  faculties,  and  poetic  tastes  and  sympathies,  and  so 
richly  stored  with  the  proper  material  for  poetic  composition, 
should  turn  his  attention  to  the  subject  of  verse  and  rhythm, 
and  even  put  forth  early  essays  in  this  style.  Such  we  find 
to  be  the  case.  His  earliest  effort  in  metre  is  a  piece  composed 
in  1816,  when  he  was  about  seven  years  old.  It  is  an  imagina- 
tive flourish  on  "  the  Seasons,"  and  is  not  devoid  of  a  certain  ex- 
cellence. The  melody  is  perfect,  and  some  of  the  epithets  are 
happy.  This  was  immediately  followed  by  one  on  the  Yellow 
Fever,  and  is  marked  by  the  same  wrell-defined  rhythmical 
structure  which  is  conspicuous  in  his  later  effusions,  and  in 
some  degree  the  same  masterly  command  of  language  which 
could  at  all  times  bend  the  simplest  words  to  the  exigencies 
of  the  most  measured  cadence.  This  trait  is  singularly  ex- 
emplified in  some  powerful  lines  entitled  "  Monosyllables." 

*  The  Hon.  W.  C.  Alexander. 


iEr.ll.]  FACETIOUS   TURN.  31 

Yet  he  now  and  then  indulged  in  children's  games,  perhaps 
for  the  amusement  of  others,  though  they  were  never  of  the 
ordinary  kind,  and  always  gave  evidence  of  humour  and  origi- 
nality. Mrs.  Alexander,  one  day  hearing  a  noise  made  by 
some  children  up  stairs,  as  if  applauding  or  laughing  obstrep- 
erously, went  up  to  see  what  it  was.  "  She  found  in  the  room 
Addison  and  a  parcel  of  children.  In  one  corner  of  the  room 
a  counterpane  suspended,  formed  a  curtain.  Mrs.  A.  peeping 
behind  the  curtain,  discovered  a  small  boy  dressed  up  in  red 
flannel,  monkey-fashion,  and  seated.  It  thus  proved  to  be  a 
monkey-show,  and  Addison  was  the  showman."  * 

But  in  general  it  was  true  that  he  found  his  chief  pleasure 
in  pursuing  mental  or  manual  diversions,  and  none  at  all  in  the 
favourite  sports  of  boys,  in  which  a  good  deal  of  exciting 
bodily  exercise  is  called  into  play.  He  dwelt  alone.  He 
looked  out  of  his  studious  window  with  a  kind  of  speculative 
interest  upon  the  green  where  the  lads  of  his  own  age  and 
"  set  "  were  hard  at  work  flying  the  kite  or  scampering  after 
the  ball ;  but  he  was  not  of  them.  His  joys  were  of  another 
realm. 

Mr.  Alexander,  through  life,  took  a  strange  pleasure  in  no- 
ticing people  that  had  any  laughable  peculiarities,  whether  of 
looks  or  manner,  or  as  evinced  by  some  absurd  remark.  He 
would  bring  up  these  things  years  after,  and  would  turn  their 
comical  speeches  into  household  proverbs,  or  would  bring  the 
tears  into  his  eyes  as  he  rehearsed  their  little  adventures. 

Mr.  Charles  Campbell  apprises  me  of  the  fact  that  a  lady 
of  Staunton,  Virginia,  now  deceased,  once  gave  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Campbell,  an  account  of  a  very  odd-looking  and  pompous 
little  preacher,  before  unknown,  who  in  these  days  visited  Dr. 
Alexander  and  staid  all  night.  "  He  was  of  an  outre  appear- 
ance, looking  like  some  kind  of  queer  bird,  rata  avis  in  terra. 
He  was  quite  conceited  withal,  and  had  a  way  of  asserting 
trite  truth  in  a  very  emphatic  tone,  e.  g.  straightening  himself 

*  This  incident  has  been  preserved  by  the  venerable  Mrs.  Campbell,  of 
Petersburg,  Virginia. 


32  FIRST   EFFORTS    AT   VERSE.  [1819. 

up  he  would  exclaim  ore  rotimdo,  '  Dr.  Alexander,  I  am  firmly 
of  the  opinion  that  mankind  by  nature  are  totally  depraved.' 
This  eccentric  little  minister  had  the  manner  of  a  bantam 
cock.  Towards  bed-time,  becoming  uneasy  lest  the  stranger 
should  tarry  all  night,  one  of  the  boys  inquired  whether  if  he 
did,  he  would  sleep  in  his  bed?  to  which  Addison  replied, 
'  No,  he  will  roost  on  the  tester.'  At  prayers  the  stranger 
officiated,  and  happened  to  read  the  CII.  Psalm :  '  By  reason 
of  the  voice  of  my  groaning,  my  bones  cleave  to  my  skin.  I 
am  like  a  pelican  of  the  wilderness  :  I  am  like  an  owl  of  the 
desert.  I  watch,  and  am  as  a  sparrow  alone  upon  the  house- 
top.' When  he  read  these  ornithological  verses,  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  ladies  could  repress  their  risibilities." 

I  give  below  extracts  from  another  piece  which  he  wrote 
about  the  same  time.  It  is  certainly  good,  to  be  the  produc- 
tion of  a  very  little  boy : 

"THE  PAEEICIDE. 

"  Ah  !  who  is  that  with  glittering  blade, 
Standing  beneath  the  elrn-tree  shade, 
The  tear-drop  glistening  in  his  eye, 
His  bosom  heaving  with  a  sigh. 
Why  does  he  turn  and  fearful  start, 
And  lay  his  hand  upon  his  heart ; 
Why  does  he  start  with  conscious  guilt, 
And  grasp  his  sabre's  shining  hilt? 
He  turns  and  rushes  to  the  tide, 

And  cries — '  I  am  a  parricide ! ' 

****** 

****** 

But  who  comes  there  ?     'Tis  Osman  dire, 
His  bosom  burns  with  generous  ire, 

****** 

»l»  *)•  *f  ^P  TV  3p 

****** 

Juan  to  desperation  driven, 
One  poisoned  arrow  from  the  seven, 
His  quiver  held  one  poisoned  dart, 
Drew  forth  and  hurled  at  Osman's  heart. 
False  to  its  aim  the  arrow  fell, 


Mt.  10.]  EARLY    POETICAL    VENTURES.  33 

But  human  tongue  can  never  tell 
The  rage  that  flashed  from  Juan's  eyes 
When  lie  perceived  he'd  lost  his  prize. 
Another  dart  to  end  the  strife 

He  hurled  ; — it  took  brave  Osman's  life." 

******* 

The  two  following  pieces  were  written  in  his  eleventh  year. 
They  both  exhibit  a  marked  increase  in  the  poetic  power,  but 
are  chiefly  interesting  as  shedding  a  curious  light  on  the  char- 
acter and  extent  of  his  childish  studies.     The  first  is  entitled — 

"  SOLITUDE. 

"  Now  in  the  eastern  sky  the  cheering  light 
Dispels  the  dark  and  gloomy  shades  of  night ; 
And  while  the  lowing  of  the  khie  is  heard, 
And  the  sweet  warbling  of  the  songster  bird; 
Where  from  afar  the  stately  river  flows, 
In  whose  bright  stream  the  sportive  goldfish  goes  ; 
Where  the  thick  trees  afford  a  safe  retreat, 
From  public  eye  and  summer's  scorching  heat ; 
There  let  me  sit  and  sweetly  meditate, 
Far  from  the  gleam  of  wealth  and  pomp  of  state. 
And  while  I  listen  to  that  murmuring  rill 
Which  pours  its  waters  down  the  neighbouring  hill, 
I  can  despise  the  pride  and  pomp  of  kings, 
And  all  the  glory  wealth  or  power  brings. 
Here  in  deep  solitude  remote  from  noise, 
From  the  world's  bustle,  idleness  and  toys, 
Here  I  can  look  upon  the  world's  vast  plain, 
And  all  her  domes  and  citadels  disdain." 

The  next,  which  was  was  written  in  the  same  year,  affords 
us  a  pleasing  glimpse  of  the  boyish  studerwt  and  a  charming 
picture  of  his  early  recreations.     It  is  entitled — 

"  THE  PLEASUEES  OP  STUDY. 

"  The  setting  sun's  resplendent  shining  ray 
Illumes  the  West  and  brings  the  end  of  day ; 
And  now  across  the  mirthful  village  green, 
Returning  school-boys  with  their  books  are  seen ; 
Who,  wearied  with  the  duties  of  the  school, 
Rejoice  to  enjoy  the  summer  evening  cool. 
2* 


34  EARLY    ATTEMPTS    AT   RHYMING.  [1819. 

The  beggars  also  wander  tbro'  the  street, 
Entreating  charity  of  all  they  meet ; 
Now  learned  men,  philosophers  profound, 
In  gloomy  silence  meditate  around  ; 


Now  the  poor  peasant  with  his  little  store, 

Returns  with  pleasure  to  his  cottage  door, 

The  rich  upon  their  couches  slothful  roll, 

With  ease  of  limb,  but  restlessness  of  soul ; 

They  still  are  restless  when  the  glorious  sun 

His  daily  course  through  the  broad  heavens  has  run ; 

No  rankling  care  afflicts  the  poor  man's  breast, 

Who  with  a  conscience  light  retires  to  rest. 

Now  o'er  his  books  the  studious  scholar  pores, 

Nor  hears  the  creaking  of  the  opening  doors ; 

Nor  sees  the  visitors  until  they  place 

Their  unwelcome  forms  before  his  studious  face. 

By  him  the  wars  of  ancient  Greece  are  seen, 

While  others  sport  upon  the  village  green ; 

And  while  he  dwells  on  Plato's  flowing  word3, 

He  knows  the  pleasure  study  deep  affords  ; 

The  Spartan  chiefs  and  Athens'  mighty  son, 

Who  conquered  on  the  plains  of  Marathon, 

Pharsalia  slow  now  rises  to  his  view, 

And  all  the  millions  Julius  Caasar  slew ; 

Nor  sleeps  great  Pompey  nor  Mark  Antony's  shade, 

Who  on  the  field  of  battle  dead  were  laid. 

He  sees  them  all  in  fancy  and  he  knows 

When  brave  Camillus  into  splendour  rose  ; 

He  feels  the  terrours  of  the  Trojan  crew, 

Whom  on  the  waves  relentless  Juno  threw  ; 

He  hears  the  clamour  rising  to  the  skies 

When  haughty  Taurus  from  the  battle  flies  ; 

Loud  cries  of  victory  he  hears, 

And  clamour  bursts  upon  his  startled  ears ; 

He  sees  the  young  Julius  clad  in  arms, 

Resolved  t'  avenge  his  country's  woeful  harms  ; 

He  sees  the  place  where  noble  Paris  lies, 

And  hears  the  groans  with  which  that  hero  dies  ; 

And  when  from  these  reluctantly  he  goes, 

To  enjoy  the  time  allotted  for  repose, 

The  shade  of  many  a  mighty  hero  seems, 

To  speak  and  hover  round  him  in  his  dreams." 


Mt.10.1  TOETICAL   TALENTS.  35 

Some  of  these  youthful  attempts  were  copied  into  a  little 
book  in  a  fair  copper-plate  hand,  by  one  of  his  instructors, 
and  carefully  preserved  by  his  mother.  This  book  I  have 
seen.  The  pieces  which  I  have  inserted  are  not  given  so 
much  for  their  intrinsic  value,  as  to  show  the  versatility  of 
his  parts  and  his  early  taste  for  versification,  as  well  as  to 
exhibit  the  maturity  of  his  thoughts,  his  correct  view  of 
human  life,  and  his  ardent  but  already  ripe  and  discriminating 
love  for  books,  and  what  books  contain.  Literature  was  even 
at  this  early  date  beginning  to  afford  a  field  for  his  indefatiga- 
ble intellect  and  boundless  ambition.  It  is  not  to  be  denied 
that  his  scholarship  and  general  intelligence  were  at  this  time 
far  in  advance  of  his  poetical  talents.  Many  bright  boys, 
such  as  Chatterton,  Pope,  and  Kirk  White,  may  have  excelled 
these  efforts  in  rhyme  and  metre  at  the  same  tender  age.  But 
these  precocious  versifiers  were  much  inferior  to  the  boy  Addi- 
son Alexander  in  several  other  and  more  important  particulars. 
Junctures,  however,  were  to  arise;  themes  were  to  be  pre- 
sented ;  culture  of  a  special  kind  was  to  be  gained ;  that  were 
soon  to  lead  to  results  even- in  the  domain  of  poetry  that  could 
not  have  been  anticipated  from  these  first  crude  attempts. 
Qualities  as  yet  almost  unsuspected  in  this  boy  were  pres- 
ently to  spring  into  existence,  or  burst  into  exuberance,  that 
wei*e  one  day  to  astonish  and  delight  the  admirers  of  prodigal 
genius. 

It  would  certainly  require  sharp  penetration  to  detect  the 
author  of  the  "  Doomed  Man,"  the  noble  lines  on  the  Rhine, 
and  on  the  Mediterranean,  the  sweet  verses  on  the  "  Fatherless 
Girl,"  the  powerful  stanzas  entitled  "  Be  still,  and  know  that 
I  am  God,"  and  the  exquisite  fragment  on  the  theme  "  He  is 
Arisen  from  the  Dead,  He  is  not  Here  " — in  "  The  Parricide  " 
or  even  in  the  "  Pleasures  of  Study." 

He  never  referred  himself  to  these  boyish  efforts  except 
with  a  sort  of  good-natured,  laughing  malice.  He  always  spoke 
contemptuously  of  immature  essays  of  this  kind,  and  I  have 
heard  him  say  that  in  his  opinion  one  secret  of  Cowper's  ex- 
traordinary success  as  a  poet  was  that  he  never  let  the  world 


36  EARLY   TEACHERS.  [1819. 

see  any  of  his  "juvenile  poems."  One  reason,  perhaps,  why 
these  boyish  effusions  iu  verse  fail  to  show  Addison  Alexander 
in  his  strength,  is  that  after  his  very  first  ventures  in  this  line 
he  threw  himself  with  his  whole  soul  into  the  pursuit  of  clas- 
sical and  oriental  learning ;  which  for  many  years  afterwards 
Avas  to  engage  his  highest  powers,  and  to  take  up  almost  his 
whole  time. 

And  yet  if,  when  we  compare  him  with  his  own  later  self, 
and  with  a  few  surprising  genuises,  his  talent  at  this  time  for 
making  verses  may  not  strike  one  as  very  singular  or  wonder- 
ful ;  if  we  compare  him  with  the  majority  of  clever  boys,  it 
will  appear  to  have  been  by  no  means  inconsiderable.  There 
is  certainly  promise  in  some  of  these  nervous  and  sonorous 
couplets  of  greater  things  to  come.  If,  as  Wordsworth  says, 
"the  boy  is  father  of  the  man,"  we  may  hope  for  fine  poems 
from  this  sagacious  judgment  and  glowing  fancy  when  they 
shall  have  become  matured  and  chastened.  Nor  shall  we  be 
disappointed  in  this  expectation.  Though  the  cloud  is  as  yet 
no  bigger  than  a  man's  hand,  a  storm  of  verse  is  bre\ving: 
"  poetica  surgit  tempestas." 

From  this  point  onward,  there  are  few  traces  of  that  im- 
perfection or  crudity  which  is  naturally  associated  with  the 
period  of  youth.  His  mental  development  was  now  so  rapid 
that  in  a  very  short  time  from  the  date  of  these  little  juvenile 
poems,  Addison,  though  in  years  still  almost  a  child,  was  in 
poAver  of  thought  and  range  of  information  a  full-grown  man; 
and  in  some  respects  a  man,  too,  of  extraordinary  ability. 

We  have  seen  that  he  began  the  study  of  Latin  at  a  very 
early  age,  and  had  even  commenced  the  study  of  Hebrew. 
He  had  also  entered  upon  a  course  in  Greek.  Exactly  when 
he  began  Greek  I  have  been  unable  to  find  out.  It  remains  to 
be  said,  however,  that  he  had  been  some  time  reading  Latin  and 
even  Hebrew  before  he  ever  began  to  go  to  school.  His  first 
teacher  out  of  the  familv  Avas  named  James  Hamilton,  and  Avas 
known  generally  as  Jemmy  Hamilton. 

The  Rev.  George  Burro Aves,  D.  D.,  now  professor  at  Easton, 
tells  me  he  has  often  heard  Mr.  Hamilton  "  speak  with  pride 


^Et.10.]  JEMMY    HAMILTON.  37 

of  his  connection  with  Dr.  Addison  Alexander,  as  his  teacher 
in  the  early  stage  of  the  Latin  ;  and  mention  that  with  such 
facility  did  he  even  then — a  small,  chubby,  rosy-cheeked  boy, 
pick  up  the  language,  that  the  perfect  mastery  of  the  lessons 
of  his  class  in  Historia  Sacra,  seemed  to  him  a  mere  childish 
diversion." 

Hamilton  was  a  man  of  no  ordinary  ability  ;  a  ripe  scholar, 
and  a  teacher  of  great  merit.  Pie  was  a  native  of  Princeton, 
and  was  graduated  at  the  College  of  New  Jersey  in  1814. 
After  his  graduation,  he  became  an  assistant  teacher  in  the 
Princeton  Academy,  of  which  his  brother-indaw,  the  Rev. 
Jared  L.  Fyler,  was  the  principal.  On  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Fyler  from  Princeton,  Mr.  Hamilton  established  a  school  there, 
which  he  conducted  with  distinguished  success  for  many  years. 
Among  his  pupils  were  the  three  oldest  sons  of  Dr.  Alexander, 
and  the  Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk,  D.  D.,  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Tyler  having  opened  a  private  school  at  Trenton,  Mr. 
Hamilton  joined  him  there  as  an  assistant,  and  succeeded  to 
the  management  and  control  of  the  school,  on  the  removal  of 
Mr.  Fyler  to  Mississippi. 

On  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  Philip  Lindsley,  D.  D.,  to 
the  presidency  of  the  University  of  Nashville,  he  took  Mr. 
Hamilton  with  him  as  a  Professor  of  Mathamatics.  This  posi- 
tion he  is  said  to  have  filled  with  signal  ability.  After  a  few 
years  he  resigned  his  chair,  returned  to  New  Jersey,  and  re- 
opened his  school  in  Trenton  ;  but  after  a  time  he  gave  it  up 
and  resumed  his  professorship  at  Nashville,  where  he  died  of 
cholera  during  the  epidemic  of  1849.  Mr.  Hamilton  was, 
according  to  the  standard  of  that  day,  a  scholar  of  rare  and 
varied  attainments,  and  while  thoroughly  grounded  in  the 
languages,  was  eminently  distinguished  as  a  mathematician. 
He  was  by  nature  exceedingly  diffident  and  retiring,  and  this 
prevented  his  filling  that  space  in  the  public  eye  which  was 
occupied  by  men  of  humbler  talents  and  more  slender  acquire- 
ments. 

It  was  under  Hamilton  that  Addison  probably  received 
his  best  schooling  in  the  mathematics.     This  and  the  kindred 


38  SALMON    STRONG.  1818-19. 

sciences  was  one  of  the  few  branches  of  study  which  he  did 
not  continue  to  prosecute  with  avidity  in  after  life.  There  is 
no  conclusive  evidence,  however,  that  his  powers  were  not 
equally  adapted  to  the  class,  or  rather  classes  of  studies  he 
actually  pursued,  and  to  the  regular  demonstrations  of  geome- 
try, or  even  the  refined  methods  of  the  modern  analysis.  He 
was  always  quick  at  figures,  and  was  in  the  habit,  at  least 
when  travelling,  of  keeping  accurate  accounts.  I  have  never 
detected  any  error  in  any  of  his  calculations.  He  divided  (as 
we  shall  presently  see)  the  first  honours  of  his  class  in  col- 
lege, and  mathematics,  though  not  carried  to  the  lengths 
that  are  now  familiar  to  our  American  students,  yet  tbrmed 
an  essential  part  of  the  course.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that 
his  superb  analytical  discussions,  his  rare  faculty  of  generali- 
zation, his  exact  habits  as  an  observer,  and  his  prodigious 
memory,  might  have  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  physicists 
or  astronomers,  had  he  chosen  to  devote  himself  heart  and 
soul  to  these  pursuits.  It  was  his  tastes  rather  than  his  abilities 
that  pointed  in  another  direction.  Aside,  moreover,  from  his 
natural  turn  or  inclination  for  the  study  of  languages,  and  the 
burning  zeal  with  which  he  loved  to  ransack  the  treasures  of 
ancient  and  modern — of  oriental  and  occidental  literature,  the 
time  was  now  at  hand  Avhen  a  figure  typical  of  the  ignorance 
and  sin  that  are  in  the  world,  and  of  the  struggles  of  mankind 
after  light,  and  hope  and  consolation  that  are  only  to  be 
found  in  the  Bible,  was  to  stand  before  him  in  his  dreams, 
and  cry  "  Come  over  into  Macedonia  and  help  us." 

I  cannot  fix  the  date  precisely,  but  about  the  year  1817  or 
1818,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Lindsley,  then  Vice-President  and  Pro- 
fessor of  Languages  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  opened  in 
Princeton  a  select  classical  school  for  the  preparation  of  young 
men  for  college.  At  the  head  of  this  school  was  placed  Mr. 
Salmon  Strong,  of  New  York,  and  the  school  was  visited,  and 
the  classes  were  examined  once  a  week  by  Dr.  Lindsley.  Mr. 
Strong  had  been  a  student  of  the  Theological  Seminary,  and 
was  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College.  He  had  the  reputation 
of  being  a  good  scholar  and  an  experienced  and  successful 


^;T.  9-10.]  HORACE    S.    PRATT.  39 

teacher,  a  reputation  which  he  fully  sustained  while  in  con- 
nection with  Dr.  Lindsley.  He  afterwards  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  an  academy  at  Aurora,  New  York. 

This  school  was  attended  by  Addison  and  one  of  his 
brothers,  as  long  as  it  was  kept  up.  His  next  instructor  was 
Horace  S.  Pratt,  of  Connecticut.  Mr.  Pratt,  like  Mr.  Strong, 
was  a  student  of  the  Seminary,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Yale 
College.  He  taught  privately  a  few  boys,  and  among  them 
the  subject  of  this  Memoir.  This  was  in  1818  and  1819.  Mr. 
Pratt  was  settled  as  a  pastor  at  St.  Mary's,  Georgia,  and  after- 
wards, I  think,  became  a  Professor  in  the  University  of  Ala- 
bama at  Tuscaloosa.  The  tuition  under  Hamilton  was  in 
1816  and  1817.  Addison,  therefore,  must  have  studied  under 
Hamilton,  when  a  boy  of  seven  or  eight,  and  under  Strong 
and  Pratt,  when  a  boy  of  nine  or  ten  years  old.  It  was  partly 
under  the  stimulus  of  these  studies  that  he  wrote  the  verses 
which  have  already  been  given. 

His  mind  was  now  daily  expanding  to  the  sun  and  breeze 
of  ancient  learning ;  and  he  was  soon  to  make  his  first  ac- 
quaintance with  the  tongues  of  modern  Europe,  for  which  he 
continued  through  life  to  entertain  an  extraordinary  fondness. 

In  the  autumn  of  1819,  there  came  to  Princeton  as  a  theo- 
logical student,  a  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Robert  Baird. 
At  the  instance  of  one  of  the  professors,  he  spent  some  time 
daily  in  giving  instruction  to  the  young.  He  first  taught  in  a 
private  family  in  or  near  the  village,  and  then  in  his  room  in 
the  Seminary.  Some  time  during  the  summer  of  1821,  Mr. 
Baird  formed  an  acquaintance  and  pretty  close  intimacy  with 
the  eldest  son  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  who  read  French 
for  a  while  with  the  ardent  divinity  student.  How  it  was  at 
this  time,  I  do  not  know,  but  in  after  life  French  was  to  Mr. 
Baird  as  familiar  and  as  easy  as  his  mother  tongue.  At  the 
same  time  he  had  an  hour  in  the  afternoon  every  day  in  Greek 
with  the  brothers  William  and  Addison,  at  his  own  room  in 
the  seminary  building,  the  former  of  the  two  boys  being  at 
the  time  in  question  twelve,  and  the  latter  fourteen.  In  the 
autumn  of  1821,  Mr.  Baird  succeeded  Mr.  Breckinridge  as 


40  CLASSICAL    SCHOOL.  [1821. 

tutor  in  the  college,  and  saw  the  older  of  the  two  boys  enter 
as  a  sophomore.  The  younger  joined  a  class  of  private  schol- 
ars formed  by  Mr.  Baird,  but  taught  by  two  other  theological 
students. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  year  1822,  a  new  academy  was  estab- 
lished in  Princeton  of  which  the  now  celebrated  Robert  Baird 
became  the  principal.  Mr.  Baird  was  from  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
graduate  of  Jefferson  College.  He  had  been,  as  we  have  seen, 
a  student  of  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  also  a 
tutor  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Baird  was  already 
somewhat  famous  for  the  accuracy  and  extent  of  his  scholar- 
ship, and  for  his  success  as  a  teacher,  and  in  this  new  under- 
taking, succeeded  in  imparting  an  extraordinary  degree  of 
ardour  to  his  pupils.  Among  his  first  scholars  was  Addison 
Alexander.  In  addition  to  his  regular  lessons,  which  were 
always  perfectly  prepared,  Addison  here  devoted  himself  with 
renewed  assiduity  to  general  literature.  He  established  and 
edited  a  newspaper,  which  was  beautifully  printed  *  with  a 
pen,  and  of  which,  I  am  assured,  the  contents  would  have 
done  no  discredit  to  his  mature  manhood.  He  united  with 
several  others  in  founding  a  literary  society  in  the  Academy, 
and  devoted  himself  to  it  with  wonderful  relish  and  enthusiasm. 

In  conjunction  with  the  Hon.  William  Barclay  Napton,  the 
late  Chief- Justice  of  the  State  of  Missouri,  he  opened  a  moot- 
court  in  which  causes  were  argued  with  technical  propriety 
and  elaborate  skill.  Minutes  of  this  court  were  regularly  kept, 
in  which  the  arguments  and  decisions  were  duly  recorded. 

Among  the  other  pupils  of  Mr.  Baird  at  this  time,  Avere 
Mr.  William  King,  of  Savannah,  now  of  Marietta,  Georgia, 
an  intimate  friend  both  of  Mr.  Alexander  and  Judge  Napton, 
and  Mr.  David  Comfort,  formerly  of  New  Jersey,  and  now  of 
Charlotte  County  Virginia. 

*  Dr.  Alexander  had  much  of  Porson's  love  for  calligraphy,  and  often 
amused  himself  with  what  might  have  seemed  to  some  a  frivolous  eye  to  the 
appearance  of  his  manuscript.  "We  shall  have  abundant  testimonies  as  we  go 
on  to  his  success  in  this  particular.  Even  in  these  small  matters,  it  might  be 
said  of  him  that  he  touched  nothing  that  he  did  not  adorn. 


uEt.  12.]  ROBERT    BAIRD.  41 

The  circumstances  under  which  Mr.  Baird  came  to  be  one 
of  Addison's  teachers  are  recounted  in  an  obituary  notice 
of  the  latter,  in  the  Presbyterian,  in  which  Mr.  Baird  says  : 

"When  I  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  in  the 
autumn  of  1819,  I  was  encouraged  by  the  late  Dr.  Archibald  Alex- 
ander to  devote  two  or  three  hours  daily  to  giving  instruction ;  and 
this  I  did  throughout  the  entire  course ;  first  in  a  private  family,  then 
for  a  year  and  a  balf  in  my  room  in  the  Seminary  to  a  son  and  nephew 
of  the  late  Dr.  Green,  then  President  of  the  College,  and  lastly  as  a 
tutor  in  the  College.  In  the  summer  of  the  second  year  [1821]  I  be- 
came somewhat  intimately  acquainted  with  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  James 
"W.  Alexander,  who,  baving  graduated  the  autumn  previous,  was 
devoting  himself  to  historical  and  general  studies,  under  his  honoured 
father's  direction.  He  came  often  to  see  me,  for  the  purpose  of  read- 
ing French,  to  which  language  I  had  given  some  attention.  During 
that  summer,  at  the  request  of  their  father,  I  undertook  to  give  some 
lessons  in  Greek  to  Addison  and  William  Alexander,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose they  came  every  afternoon  to  my  room  for  an  hour.  The 
former  was  then  twelve  years  old,  the  latter  fourteen. 

"In  the  autumn  of  1821  I  took  the  place  of  the  late  Dr.  John 
Breckinridge  as  a  tutor  in  Princeton  College;  William  entered  the 
Sophomore  class  that  autumn,  and  was  no  more  under  my  instruction  ; 
but  Addison  joined  a  class  of  boys  which  I  formed,  but  not  being  able 
to  teach  them  on  account  of  the  tutorship,  I  committed  them  to  two 
fellow-students  in  the  Theological  Seminary.  In  the  autumn  of  1822, 
leaving  the  tutorship,  and  having  completed  the  course  of  studies 
in  the  Seminary,  I  took  charge  of  a  classical  school  in  Princeton, 
which  I  conducted  till  the  spring  of  1828,  when,  for  want  of  sufficient 
health,  I  gave  it  up  for  an  active  course  of  life,  which,  under  one  form 
or  other,  I  have  pursued  ever  since.  Addison  entered  the  school  at 
the  outset,  and  continued  in  it  till  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  entered 
(in  the  autumn  of  1824)  the  junior  class  in  the  college.  His  brother 
Archibald  entered  the  school  at  a  later  day,  and  remained  in  it  till  he 
entered  College." 

Never  was  a   sensitive  and  bashful  man  more  misjudged 
than  was  Addison  Alexander.     From  the  first  he  wras  shy 
reserved   and  diffident ;    not  diffident   perhaps   of  his   abili- 
ties or  acquirements,  but  unwilling  and  almost  incapable  of 
showing  them  off.     It  is  interesting  to  know  that  his  early 


42  TALENT    FOR    WRITING.  [182L 

efforts  in  declamation,  like  those  of  Demosthenes  and  Web- 
ster, were  failures.  Yet  he  afterwards  excelled  most  of  his 
mates  in  the  gift  and  art  of  oratory.  On  these  points  his 
preceptor  continues : 

"  "When  Addison  came  under  my  instruction  he  was  a  short  and 
stout  boy,  possessing  fine  health  and  a  fine  flow  of  spirits,  but  exceed- 
ingly diffident.  His  first  attempts  at  speaking  before  the  school  were 
about  as  unpromising  as  can  well  be  imagined.  He  was  so  diffident 
that  he  could  scarcely  get  on  at  all ;  and  yet  when  he  left  the  school 
to  enter  the  College,  at  the  age  of  little  more  than  fifteen,  he  had  grown 
very  much,  and  was  a  graceful  and  effective  speaker.  And  when  he 
graduated,  two  years  later,  he  was  a  very  fine  speaker — finer,  I  think, 
than  he  was  in  the  later  periods  of  his  life.  I  do  not  believe  that  he 
ever  got  rid  of  the  extreme  diffidence  which  characterized  his  youth. 
It  was,  undoubtedly,  the  principal  cause  of  his  strong  repugnance  to 
going  freely  into  society.  It  combined  with  his  delight  in  study  to 
make  him  more  of  a  recluse  than  his  friends  desired  him  to  be."  * 

Perhaps  no  one  was  more  struck  with  his  cleverness  and 
versatility  than  the  head  of  the  Academy  himself.  The  "  com- 
positions "  of  his  round-faced  little  scholar  greatly  and  espe- 
cially attracted  him.     On  this  point  he  says  : 

"At  that  early  period  lie  displayed  much  talent  for  writing.  At 
twelve  o'clock  every  day  it  was  my  custom  to  require  two  of  the 
boys  to  read  each  a  sketch  of  one  of  the  deities  of  the  Roman  and 
Greek  mythology,  or  of  some  of  the  heroes  or  authors  of  ancient  or 
modern  times,  or  of  some  country,  or  of  some  portion  of  history. 
The  epitomes  which  he  produced  were  always  excellent.  Even  then, 
I  may  add,  he  had  a  great  fondness  for  writing  stories  for  the  small 
boys,  in  which  he  displayed  great  tact  as  well  as  taste.  A  fondness 
for  this  sort  of  amusement  he  retained,  I  believe,  to  his  dying  day — 
passing  from  the  gravest  and  severest  studies  with  the  most  extraordi- 
nary ease  to  the  writing  of  pleasant  and  interesting  stories,  and  pieces 
of  poetry  for  youthful  minds.  He  began  also  at  that  time  to  be  an 
editor.  He  established  a  weekly  journal,  writing  every  word  in  such 
a  way  as  wonderfully  to  resemble  printing.  I  have  forgotten  the  name 
of  his  periodical;  but  I  remember  that  an  opposition  paper  soon 
appeared,  and  as  might  be  expected,  it  was  not  very  long  before  I  had 

*  Dr.  Baird,  in  the  Presbyterian. 


Mt.U.z  GREAT    INDUSTRY.  43 

to  suppress  both — the  first  and  second  ' warning''  which  I  gave  only 
provoking  both  editors  to  say  some  very  bold  things,  things  which 
encroached  too  much  on  my  magisterial  prerogatives."* 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Graham,  dated  July  22,  1823,  Dr.  Alex- 
ander refers  to  Addison's  extraordinary  industry,  his  Homeric 
studies,  his  penchant  for  the  law,  his  aversion  to  teaching,  his 
joy  at  finding  some  Persian  manuscript,  and  his  admiration 
for  Sir  William  Jones.  The  greatness  and  goodness  of  Jones 
always  seemed  to  exert  an  influence  on  him  whenever  he  had 
occasion  to  go  to  him  for  pleasure  or  instruction.  "  Addison  is 
at  home,  not  loitering,  but  engaged  fourteen  hours  of  the  day  in 
hard  study.  He  read  five  books  of  Homer  in  one  week,  and 
is  going  through  the  Odyssey  as  well  as  the  Iliad.  Unless  the 
grace  of  God  should  prevent,  the  law  will  probably  be  his 
profession.  He  is  fond  of  legal  disquisitions.  But  I  never 
heard  him  express  an  opinion  on  the  subject  of  a  profession. 
To  teaching  he  has  a  strong  aversion,  which  is  the  case  with 
all  my  children.  Addison  has  found  two  old  Persian  manu- 
scripts in  the  College  Library,  and  the  very  sight  of  them 
gives  him  pleasure.  I  can  see  very  plainly  that  his  admira- 
tion of  Sir  William  Jones  influences  him  in  all  his  literary 
pursuits." 

An  interesting  relic  of  this  period  is  given  below,  which 
bears  this  inscription  : 

"  An  Arabic  translation  of  the  title-page  of  '  Waverley,'  by  Jos. 
A.  Alexander. 

"Princeton,  August  20,  1822." 

The  facsimile  of  a  page  of  original  Arabic,  composed  and 
written  by  a  boy  of  thirteen,  will  be  regarded  as  a  literary 
curiosity. 

There  is  another  specimen  of  this  kind  of  the  same  date, 
and  his  journals  of  subsequent  years  are  full  of  this  flexible 
but  difficult  character.     There  are  also  letters  of  his  extant 

*The  reader  will  be  amused  by  comparing  this  account  of  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  weekly  paper  with  that  given  in  these  pages  by  Mr.  King. 


44  FACSIMILE    OF    ARABIC.  [1823. 

written  partly  in  this  tongue.  But  the  fragment  here  given 
is,  not  only  from  its  early  origin  and  its  occasion,  but  also 
from  its  subject,  probably  the  most  singular  memorial  of  his 
oriental  studies. 

^b  ^' 


ob1  *A^ 


^oui 


©'tf1  O^jivT  oa(*  0^  ^jjl 

His  old  teacher,  Dr.  Baird,  has  put  his  hand  to  the  disorim- 


^Et.14]  AT   SCHOOL.  45 

inating  judgment  of  his  early  powers  as  a  linguist,  which  I 
give  below  : 

"I  cannot  say  that  he  was  remarkably  accurate  in  his  knowledge 
of  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages  when  he  first  came  to  me,  although 
he  had  read  nearly  every  author  that  was  required  for  entrance  into 
the  Freshman  class.  But  such  was  his  progress  in  two  or  three  years 
that  he  became  a  remarkably  fine  scholar,  entered  the  College  with 
high  reputation,  and  took  the  first  honours  of  the  Institution.*  I  have 
never  seen  a  better  classical  scholar  at  the  age  of  fifteen  than  he  was. 
Nor  was  his  knowledge  of  mathematics  much  inferior  to  that  of  the 
Latin  and  Greek  languages.  He  wrote  Latin,  both  in  prose  and  verse, 
with  great  ease  aud  purity.  Many  of  his  imitations  of  the  Odes  of 
Horace  were  admirable.  Towards  the  end  of  his  course  in  the  Acade- 
my he  could  read  with  ease  several  pages  of  Herodotus  orThucydides, 
or  two  hundred  lines  of  Homer  in  an  hour. 

"  During  almost  all  his  course  with  me  he  taught  for  nearly  an  hour 
every  morning  and  afternoon  one  of  the  lower  classes,  and  he  did  it  well. 
He  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  boys.  He  was  sure  to  have  a  crowd 
around  him,  if  he  came  half  an  hour  or  more  before  the  school  opened. 
On  these  occasions  his  diffidence  always  left  him.  He  was  the  master- 
spirit in  the  Literary  Society  of  the  Academy,  as  well  as  in  the  Moot- 
Court,  which  the  boys  held  once  a  week,  where  he  was  sure  to  be  em- 
inent, whether  he  acted  the  part  of  the  judge  or  that  of  the  advocate." 

As  to  his  disposition  to  stick  to  his  books,  and  his  geniality 
of  feeling,  he  adds  the  following  handsome  testimony: 

"  For  reasons  which  I  have  stated,  Dr.  Joseph  Addison  Alexander 
was  never  fond  of  going  into  society;  but  he  was  far  from  being  of  a 
morose  disposition.  On  the  contrary,  his  feelings  were  genial,  and  his 
attachments  were  sincere  and  enduring.  His  delight  was  in  his  books, 
and  in  the  society  of  his  intimate  friends.  But  he  had  neither  time  nor 
inclination  to  go  into  company." 

*  Several  of  those  who  were  fellow-students  of  Addison  in  the  Academy 
have  become  men  of  more  than  ordinary  usefulness  and  distinction.  One  of 
them,  who  is  now  Judge  Napton,  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Missouri,  was  his 
classmate  both  in  the  Academy  and  the  College,  and  shared  with  him  the  high- 
est honours  of  the  class  in  both.  It  was  impossible  to  determine  which  of 
them  was  the  better  scholar.  Judge  Napton  may  have  his  equal  in  the  knowl- 
edge of  law,  but  I  am  sure  that  he  has  no  superior,  either  in  legal  or  classical 
attainments,  in  all  the  West. 


46  TRENTON    REMINISCENCES.  [1823. 

I  might  add  almost  indefinitely  to  the  testimonies  already- 
given.  A  few  more  may  be  appended  here.  Dr.  George  M. 
Maclean,  the  brother  of  the  President,  and,  as  I  have  reason  to 
remember,  a  skillful  and  accomplished  physician,  writes  as 
follows : 

"I  remember  bim  as  a  boy  of  unusually  great  promise,  one  far  in 
advance  of  tbose  of  bis  years  in  attainments.  He  associated  but  little 
with  other  boys." 

This  was  when  he  was  a  school-boy,  say  of  ten  or  twelve. 
I  also  feel  at  liberty  to  mention  the  name  of  James  Ewing, 
Esq.,  of  Trenton,  who  carried  off  the  highest  honours  of  the 
class  of  1823,  and  who  does  not  hesitate  to  express  himself  in 
similar  terms.  He  has  told  me  that  though  he  saw  little  of 
Addison  in  those  days,  he  remembers  distinctly  that  his  extra- 
ordinary promise  as  a  scholar  was  matter  of  general  talk  in 
Princeton.  He  says  he  was  exceedingly  fleshy,  with  a  face 
that  bloomed  with  health  and  high  spirits.  A  venerable  lady 
living  in  the  same  town  (Trenton),  who  is  now  upwards  of 
eighty,  and  long  a  valued  friend  of  the  family,  confirms 
both  of  these  statements,  and  adds  that  she  recollects  one 
occasion  in  particular,  on  which  his  father  called  Addison 
up  to  his  knee  and  made  him  recite  Latin  words  to  her. 
This  was  when  he  was  a  very  little  boy.  The  same  lady 
also  recalls  to  mind  a  meal  that  she  once  took  in  his  house 
after  his  father's  death,  and  how  singularly  charming  and 
entertaining  he  was. 

Mr.  Comfort,  who  is  himself  a  teacher  of  many  years 
standing,  has  informed  me  that  Addison's  recitations  at  thisi 
time  were  faultless,  and  that  his  manner  of  making  them  was 
very  similar  to  his  manner  in  after  life  when  lecturing  or  preach- 
ing without  notes.  He  says  that  his  fluency  of  speech,  and 
unerring  accuracy  of  expression,  were  quite  as  remarkable  at 
this,  as  at  any  later  period.  He  Avould  pour  out  his  words 
with  vehemence  and  rapidity,  in  a  soi*t  of  clear,  steady,  and 
voluble  torrent.  He  always  got  a  perfect  mark.  His  habits 
of   solitary   study   and   segregation    from    the   mass   of   his 


■fflx.U.3  TRAITS    OF    CHARACTER.  47 

fellows,  were  already  formed.  His  gentleness,  liveliness,  and 
sparkling  wit  and  humour,  when  in  a  happy  frame  of  mind 
and  in  society  he  loved,  were  just  as  conspicuous  as  after- 
wards. He  also  occasionally  exhibited  the  same  high-toned 
firmness  and  frankness  of  character  which,  in  some  of  its  mani- 
festations, always  excited  wonder  if  not  resentment  among 
those  who  did  not  know  him  thoroughly.  Just  here  I  will  say, 
that  in  my  opinion  he  was  one  of  the  most  intrepidly  honest, 
as  well  as,  when  so  disposed,  one  of  the  most  open-hearted  and 
generous-hearted  of  men.  The  brother  who  sat  by  his  side  at 
Mr.  Baird's  school,  testifies  that  Addison  was  then,  as  he  was  al- 
ways, noted  for  his  singular  truthfulness.  This  was  a  remark- 
able trait  in  his  disposition.  The  brother  to  whom  I  refer 
never  knew  him  flinch  from  telling  the  plain  truth  about  any 
thing.  This  peculiarity  characterized  him  throughout  life,  and 
Avas  one  cause  of  his  giving  offence  sometimes.  He  "  came 
right  out  with  a  thing,"  as  we  say,  where  many  would  have 
smoothed  or  softened  a  little,  at  the  expense  of  strict  veracity. 
He  seems  to  have  held  to  the  opinion  once  advanced  by  John 
Randolph  of  Roanoke  (but  now  not  much  in  vogue),  that 
candour  is  as  great  an  ornament  in  a  man,  as  modesty  is  in  a 
woman.  He  never  learned,  and  certainly  never  practised  the 
wiles  of  small  dissimulation  which,  though  undoubtedly  re- 
pugnant to  the  strict  Bible  standard,  are  not  flatly  condemned, 
but  are  rather  tolerated,  if  they  are  not  expressly  sanctioned 
by  the  canons  of  the  world.  He  was  indeed  a  stranger  to 
many  of  the  arts  of  society  which  are  unquestionably  innocent ; 
but  there  was  a  fount  of  native  politeness  in  his  heart,  and  no 
high-bred  courtier  ever  knew  better  how  to  charm.  His  eye 
had  a  merry  twinkle  that  is  indescribable,  and  that  resembled 
bright  sunshine  glancing  over  blue  seas.  His  cheek  was  fair 
and  rosy ;  his  head  was  too  broad  and  massive  for  the  impres- 
sion of  simple  elegance,  but  his  features  were  delicately  regu- 
lar, and  his  face  was  round  and  decidedly  comely.  His  hair 
was  dark  brown  —  chestnut  brown,  and  thin ;  his  lip  was 
chiselled  like  a  piece  of  statuary,  and  expressed  decision  and 
resolve ;   it  was  like  the  lip  of  Bonaparte.      His  head   was 


48  PERSONAL    APPEARANCE.  [1823. 

large  and  broad,  beyond  almost  any  tbing  I  ever  saw  in  a  per- 
son of  his  height ;  and  yet  it  was  not  at  all  too  large  for  his 
body,  and  was  perfectly  well  balanced.  His  brow  would 
have  served  a  sculptor  for  a  model  of  Jupiter.  I  doubt 
whether  Webster  or  Cuvier  had  a  much  larger  brain.  His 
stature  was  below  rather  than  above  the  medium,  yet  his  bulk 
would  always  impress  one  as  being  very  great.  His  tendency 
was  always  to  corpulency.  His  figure  and  head  have  re- 
minded many  of  Napoleon.  His  face  was  certainly  like  the 
Napoleon  at  Fontainebleau  of  Paul  de  la  Roche.  It  had  the 
same  air  of  concentrated  passion  in  repose,  though  it  had  noth- 
ing of  that  look  of  fiery  and  intrepid  gloom.  His  countenance 
was  like  a  clear  sky  that  might  one  day  rock  with  whirlwind. 
When  he  laughed,  there  was  a  fine  union  in  his  face  of  mascu- 
line genius  and  child-like  mirth.  This  picture  is  of  course 
taken  at  a  later  period,  but  it  corresponds  in  general  with  the 
accounts  of  his  boyhood. 

One  of  his  school-fellows  says  he  distinctly  remembers  how 
"  Addison  "  looked  as  he  sat  in  the  school-room  wrapt  up  in 
his  cloak,  and  mentions  his  fleshy  person,  ruddy  cheek,  and 
twinkling  eye.  The  brother  who  studied  with  him  says  that, 
as  when  he  had  his  father  for  a  master,  Addison  while  under 
these  new  preceptors  never  engaged  in  ordinary  boys'  sports. 
Even  his  plays  partook  of  an  intellectual  character ;  they 
were,  for  the  most  part,  legal,  forensic,  or  political  combats, 
such  as  holding  courts,  having  mock  trials,  editing  news- 
papers, etc. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  insert  here  several  large  extracts 
from  a  letter  I  have  lately  received  from  his  school-mate  and 
early  friend,  Mr.  King.  Mr.  King,  writing  from  Marietta, 
Georgia,  says : 

"  You  have  greatly  contributed  to  my  gratification,  in  put- 
ting upon  me  the  task  of  communicating  to  you  my  recollec- 
tions of  the  youthful  days  of  my  highly  esteemed  friend,  the 
late  Rev.  J.  Addison  Alexander  ;  thus  bringing  afresh  to  my 
memory  the  pleasures  of  my  boyish  days,  and  my  intimate 
associations  with  one  so  much  beloved ;   but  a  lapse  of  over 


jBx.14]  MR.    KING'S    RECOLLECTIONS.  49 

forty  years  has  damped  the  ardor  of  youth,  and  put  memory 
at  fault.  None  however  of  my  early  friends  have  left  more 
durable  and  pleasant  impressions  upon  my  memory,  or  which 
I  have  cherished  with  more  care. 

"  My  acquaintance  with  Addison  was  formed  early  in  the 
year  1823,  when  I  attended  the  Princeton  Academy,  then 
in  the  charge  of  Mr.  Robert  Baird ;  and  I  continued  in  per- 
sonal intimate  association  with  him  until  the  fall  of  the 
year  1824,  when  these  relations  were  interrupted  by  my 
return  to  the  South.  I  never  saw  him  but  once  afterwards. 
We  regularly  corresponded  for  many  years.  His  last  letter 
to  me  was  written  about  two  years  before  his  death.  He 
was  near  two  years  my  junior,  but  was  then  well  grown, 
having  indeed  nearly  attained  his  full  height,  with  an  excess 
of  flesh ;  weighing,  I  think,  over  a  hundred  and  fifty  pounds, 
Though  very  fleshy,  he  was  always  quick  and  sprightly.  He 
had  at  this  time  a  round  red  face,  with  brilliant  and  mis- 
chievous eyes,  that  were  nearly  always  full  of  fun.  Among 
strangers  (whose  presence  he  avoided  as  much  as  possible) 
he  was  very  quiet  and  reserved,  but  so  observing  that  their 
peculiarities  supplied  him  with  a  stock  of  amusing  comments 
for  the  gratification  of  his  friends.  With  his  intimate  friends 
(very  few  in  number)  he  was  a  most  incessant  talker,  and 
so  abounding  in  life,  wit,  and  humour,  that  he  was  generally 
allowed  to  occupy  as  much  of  the  time  as  he  desired.  His 
sarcasm  was  often  of  the  most  caustic  nature ;  kind-hearted 
as  he  was,  his  best  friends  were  often  made  to  feel  the 
severity  of  his  wit.  His  life  and  buoyancy  when  in  the 
society  of  his  chosen  companions  was  extraordinary ;  but  the 
sudden  appearance  of  a  stranger  as  suddenly  transformed 
him  into  a  serious,  silent  boy,  exhibiting  all  the  modesty 
of  a  girl,  but  giving  full  employment  to  his  eyes  and  ears. 
He  realized,  in  a  certain  sense,  the  old  figment  of  the  duality 
of  the  soid.  He  seemed  to  possess  two  different  natures. 
To  one  person,  he  appeai-ed  a  boy  of  unbounded  life  and  conr 
versational  powers,  to  another  his  character  seemed  thought- 
ful and  silent.  He  never  betrayed  any  malicious  feelings  nor 
2 


50  MR.    KING'S    RECOLLECTIONS.  [1823. 

immoral  tendencies.  As  a  boy,  his  disposition  for  placing 
persons  and  things  in  a  ridiculous  attitude  was  extreme, 
and  his  powers  in  this  direction  were  seldom  equalled.  His 
most  valued  associates  enjoyed  no  privilege  in  this  respect ; 
yet  this  strange  treatment  of  those  he  really  loved  sprung 
from  pure  vivacity  of  mind,  untinctured  with  any  bitterness 
of  feeling.  He  was  a  hard  student  then,  as  in  after  life, 
seldom  wasting  any  time."  Mr.  King  says  that  Addison 
"  was  fond  of  long  walks  in  the  country  with  one  companion, 
and  that  he  was  generally  the  one  to  enjoy  the  pleasant 
walks  with  him,  often  to  a  distance  of  two  or  three  miles 
from  the  town."  He  adds  that  "  during  those  long  walks 
his  tongue  was  kept  as  active  as  his  body.  He  had  acquired 
a  large  stock  of  knowledge  even  in  those  early  years  of  his 
life.  He  Avas  then  considered  a  fine  Arabic  scholar,  and  per- 
fectly at  home  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages.  His  general 
reading  was  extensive,  and  he  seldom  forgot  any  thing  he 
read,  heard,  or  saw,  and  was  very  quick  in  bringing  into  use 
the  stock  he  had  thus  stored  in  his  remarkable  memory. 
His  compositions  for  school  were  written  in  the  finest  style, 
and  were  remarkably  interesting."  Many  of  these,  says  Mr 
King,  "  I  had  taken  possession  of,  and  retained  to  read  and 
re-read  in  my  after-years  for  the  gratification  of  myself  and 
my  friends.  So  valued  were  these  remains  of  his  boyish  effu- 
sions, that  they,  with  his  many  letters  written  in  his  early  and 
later  years,  were  carefully  preserved  by  me;  and  they  would 
now  be  a  treasure  to  you.  But  they  are  all  gone ;  not  a 
single  one  is  left  to  me.  His  piece  for  a  school  exercise,  on 
the  'Wandering  Baboon,'  an  extravaganza  founded  on  the 
supposed  escape  of  such  an  animal  from  a  menagerie  in 
Princeton,  exhibited  the  greatest  talent  as  a  descriptive 
writer,  and  the  greatest  powers  of  wit  and  satire.  The 
young  humourist  represented  the  creature  as  roving  over 
the  Kocky  hills  lying  north  of  the  town,  much  to  the  dis- 
may of  the  honest  country  folk  who  inhabit  that  serrated 
ridge.  Another  piece  in  which  he  had  collected  together  to 
convey  his  ideas  all  the  difficult  and  unused  words  in  our 


JSt.14.]  HUMOUROUS    WRITING.  51 

language,  was  a  model  of  Ins  skill,  although  each  word  was 
properly  used  and  carefully  read.*  From  his  hearers  gene- 
rally, his  ideas,  as  expressed  in  this  remarkable  effort,  were  as 

*  These  feats  in  English  composition  were  always  favourite  diversions  with 
Dr.  Addison  Alexander.  The  Princeton  Magazine  is  full  of  his  Essays  of  this 
character,  but  some  of  the  most  astonishing  among  them  have  never  seen  the 
light.  This  periodical  also  contains  specimens  of  his  humourous  pieces  in  other 
styles.  The  ingenuity,  scholarship,  and  wit  that  were  put  to  the  stretch  in 
these  amusing  exercises  seemed  to  be  inexhaustible.  The  variety  of  styles  in 
which  this  comic  humour  was  iudulged  was  without  known  limit.  Scarcely  two 
of  these  pieces  are  composed  on  the  same  principle.  I  shall  have  occasion  to 
refer  to  this  subject  again  in  other  connections.  I  need  only  point  now  to  such 
articles  in  the  Princeton  Magazine  as  the  one  on  "  Economy  of  Thought,"  the 
one  on  "  Economy  of  Words,"  those  on  "  Freedom  of  Speech,"  and  those  enti- 
tled "  Correspondence  of  the  Princeton  Magazine,"  "  Counsellor  Phillips,"  "  Gen- 
tlemanly," "  Ham  and  Eggs :  A  Plea  for  Silent  Legislation,"  "  Mother  Country 
and  Father-Land  :  A  Dialogue,"  "Nil  Admirari,"  "  Westminster  and  Washing- 
ton," "  School  of  Legislation,"  "  Some  People,"  "  Something  New,"  "Utilitarian 
Poetry,"  "  The  Tailors'  Strike :  An  Humble  Attempt  at  The  Newest  French 
Style  of  Romantic  Fiction,"  "  The  King's  English,"  by  "  Miss  Mary,"  and 
"  The  Riches  of  the  English  Language."  These  are  some  of  the  most  striking. 
The  last  contains  a  composition  that  almost  meets  the  conditions  of  Mr.  King's 
description  of  the  one  which  excited  the  laughter  of  the  boys  at  Princeton.  It 
is  made  up  of  words  all  of  which  are  (or  were)  to  be  found  in  Webster's  Dic- 
tionary; "although,"  observes  the  writer,  "some,  I  regret  to  say,  are  marked 
as  obsolete." 

"  During  a  short  outlope,  which  I  took  one  rafty  morning,  in  my  olitory 
fell,  to  discover  the  ubication  of  a  vespiary  which  annoyed  me,  I  saw  a  tall, 
wandy,  loscl  lungis,  in  a  leasy  roquelaur,  thridding  my  gate,  and  knabbing  a 
jannock  which  I  had  just  before  inchested  in  my  pantry.  From  his  xanthic 
colour  I  took  him  for  a  Zambo  poller  who  had  sometimes  shaved  me.  As  it 
was  gang  week,  I  thought  he  might  be  maunding,  and  would  willingly  have 
given  him  a  manchet;  but  I  was  not  such  a  hoddy-doddy  as  to  suffer  every 
patibulary  querry  to  go  digitigrade  about  my  house  and  grounds.  I  mounted 
my  horse,  which  I  had  left  to  gJse  on  a  seavy  eyot  in  the  neighboring  beck 
during  my  grassation,  and  pursued  him,  but  he  seized  a  clevy  and  tried  to 
blench  the  horse's  chaufin  and  to  hase  him  back  into  the  fell.  Failing  in  this, 
he  began  to  accoy  me,  and  begged  me  to  employ  him  as  an  abacist,  pretending 
he  had  served  as  a  lancepesade  of  infantry  in  Hayti.  But  I  snebbed  and  gouged 
him,  and  not  wishing  the  affair  to  be  known  to  the  neighbouring  clerisy,  who 
were  already  not  a  little  roiled  by  some  things  I  had  said  too  ovcrla shingly,  I 
let  the  lown  go  shot-free,  and  went  home  rather  latcward,  feeling  very  hebete 


52  "THE    MEDLEY."  [1823. 

much  concealed  as  if  it  had  been  written  in  an  unknown 
tongue  ;  still  its  reading:  afforded  an  immense  amount  of 
mirth  to  his  hearers,  ignorant  as  they  were  from  the  begin- 
ning to  the  end  of  the  novel  recitation  as  to  the  meaning 
embodied  in  the  rapidly  uttered  and  enigmatical  syllables 
that  saluted  their  ears. 

"  His  chief,  if  not  Lis  only  intimate  companions  of  that 
time  were  Judge  Napton  and  myself,  boys  of  near  the  same 
age,  and  having  much  congeniality  of  feeling  and  opinions. 
For  a  long  time  the  three  issued  from  the  Academy  a  weekly 
manuscript  paper  entitled  the  'Medley,'  which  received  an 
extensive  circulation,  being  often  carried  over  into  New  York 
and  Philadelphia.  This  paper  afforded  much  entertainment 
to  the  readers,  and  much  intellectual  profit  to  the  editors. 
This  journal  was  suppressed  by  Mr.  Baird,  the  Principal 
of  the  Academy,  whose  order  conveying  the  injunction  was 
the  occasion  of  serious  murmurs  and  discontent  among;  his 
pupils.  He  was  willing  that  the  good  should  be  lost  rather 
than  hazard  an  apprehended  evil.  Sometimes  the  wit  and 
satire  were  too  scathing ;  the  students  of  the  academy,  the 
community,  and  sometimes  the  opinions  and  doings  of  our 
highly-esteemed  teacher,  though  the  names  of  the  parties  sat- 
irized were  never  mentioned,  were  the  subject  of  that  paper's 
comments.  Addison  was  the  chief  contributor  to  its  columns. 
In  the  debating  Society  of  the  Academy  he  took  little  inter- 
est. He  performed  his  part,  but  more  as  a  duty  than  a  pleas- 
ure.    He  manifested  very  little  desire  for  argument  or  discus- 


and  curat ;  but  after  eating  a  chewet  and  drinking  a  few  mozers  of  perkin,  I 
slumped  into  the  quag  and  slept  till  morning." 

The  "  Fandango  of  Osiris,"  "  An  Oriental  Tale,"  &c.,  are  in  the  same  gen- 
eral character,  though  each  of  these  absurd  effusions  is  marked  by  its  own  na- 
tive and  incomparable  peculiarities.  A  friend  has  called  my  attention  to  the 
striking  resemblance  of  some  of  these  to  some  of  Swift's  humourous  pieces. 
The  point  is  well  taken.  The  likeness  in  some  respects  is  apparent ;  yet  in  others 
the  spontaneous  effusions  of  which  I  have  been  speaking  are  without  a  parallel 
in  the  whole  range  of  English  Literature.  One  is  a  little  reminded  at  times 
of  Rabelais  or  Le  Sage. 


^Et.14.]  ORIGINAL    COMPOSITION.  53 

sion,  but  generally  he  brought  into  exercise  his  masterly- 
power  of  destroying  the  force  of  his  opponent's  argument  by 
wit  and  burlesque.  Young  Napton's  talent  was  of  a  different 
order.  Although  a  hard  student  and  good  scholar,  his  general 
reading  was  less,  and  his  memory  more  like  that  of  other 
men."  Mr.  King,  however,  was  under  the  impression  that 
Judge  Napton's  thinking  powers  and  argumentative  skill 
were  superior  at  that  time  to  those  of  his  friend.  This,  if 
true,  would  be  no  derogation  from  his  talents. 

Mr.  King  concludes  his  interesting  letter  as  follows  :  "  In 
the  days  of  Addison's  boyhood,  his  subsequent  greatness  was 
shadowed  forth  ;  he  was  as  remarkable  as  a  boy  as  he  after- 
wards became  remarkable  as  a  man.  God  in  his  wisdom  has 
cut  him  down  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  in  the  midst  of  useful- 
ness ;  but  he  had  even  then  attained  in  knowledge,  the  posi- 
tion of  old  age  in  other  learned  men." 

Whenever  any  thing  was  to  be  done  in  the  way  of  rapid 
original  composition,  and  the  dull  or  lazy  fellow  on  whom  the 
task  had  been  imposed  could  not  or  would  not  do  it ;  when- 
ever a  boy  wanted  to  astonish  his  teacher  and  companions 
with  an  uncommonly  humourous  or  florid  oration — something 
qiiite  out  of  the  usual  line — recourse  was  had  at  once  to  Addi- 
son. He  was  easy  and  accommodating  in  his  disposition,  and 
always  willing  to  help  a  classmate  out  of  the  slough.  One  of 
his  school-fellows  has  told  me  that  from  the  very  beginning, 
the  precocious  linguist  and  satirist  gave  him  the  sense  of  in- 
exhaustible capacity  for  every  species  of  writing.  He  said  the 
quick  and  exact  mathematician,  the  young  master  of  Latin  and 
Greek,  and  English,  the  blue-eyed  lover  of  the  Arabic  and 
Persian,  seemed  to  be  up  to  any  thing,  and  always  ready  for  a 
good  practical  joke.  He  was  a  round-bodied,  merry,  rather 
silent,  shrewd,  accurate,  kind-hearted,  startling,  comical  lad. 
His  complexion  was  white  and  red,  and  his  plump  figure 
threatened  trouble  on  the  score  of  too  much  flesh. 

"  Did  I  ever  mention  to  you,"  asks  a  friend, "  having  heard 
of  Addison's  writing  speeches  for  older  boys,  while  he  was 
quite  a  junior  pupil  in  the  old  Princeton  Academy  on  the  hill, 


54  STONY   BROOK.  [1821. 

near  Mr.  John  Potter's  ?  The  older  boys  were  required,  on 
set  occasions,  perhaps  at  the  close  of  the  sessions,  to  deliver 
original  speeches  before  public  audiences.  While  Addison 
was  a  mere  boy,  I  think  not  more  than  thirteen  years  old,  he 
would  write  speeches  for  his  seniors  which  would  '  bring  down 
the  house.'  You  and  I  can  understand  how  he  would  appre- 
ciate such  a  joke ;  and  how  much  better  than  most  boys,  or 
men  either,  he  could  keep  such  a  secret." 

He  always  entertained  an  affection  for  the  umbrageous 
solitudes  of  Stony  Brook.  The  memory  of  green  woods  and 
silver  streams  as  a  part,  and  a  most  delightful  one,  of  the 
scenery  of  his  school-boy  recreations,  was  always  cherished  by 
him.  O  that  I  knew  how  to  tell  how  he  wandered  in  the  sum- 
mer afternoons  under  the  spreading  branches  of  the  elm  and 
the  chestnut ;  and  how,  perhaps,  like  his  brother  James,  he 
cut  letters  in  the  beech  or  aspen  ! 

One  day  long  afterwards  he  Avrote  in  his  journal,  "  walked 
to  Stony  Brook,"  and  then  appended  the  lines  given  below, 
and  which  were  "composed  while  walking,  ISov.  5,  1853." 

They  may  chance  to  strike  some  as  being  pretty,  and  are 
undoubtedly  of  biographical  interest.  They  throw  an  addi- 
tional ray  here  and  there  upon  his  boyish  fancies  and  ambition, 
and  the  mental  struggle  it  must  have  cost  him,  with  his  sense 
of  rare  powers  and  precocious  acquisitions,  to  give  up  his  early 
dreams  of  fame  in  the  world  of  letters,  and  perhaps  of  active 
exploit.  They  also  show  how  much  he  loved  the  place  and 
associations  of  his  childhood. 

"  Dear  Princeton !     What  a  volume  is  contained 
In  that  one  word !     How  many  memories, 
Both  sweet  and  sad,  come  pouring  out  of  it, 
As  from  an  ancient  spring,  long  choked  or  dry, 
But  now  reopened  with  a  sudden  burst 
And  gush  of  waters.     Oh  beloved  home 
Of  my  long  lost,  irrevocable  youth ! 
Even  in  sleep,  when  I  revisit  thee, 
I  cease  to  be  my  present  self — I  grow 
Preposterously  young — I  am  a  boy, 
A  wild,  ambitious,  visionary  boy, 


uEt.12.]  MR.    BAIED.  55 

Dreaming  the  old  dreams  all  alive  with  hopes 

Long  dead  and  buried,  till  I  start  awake 

And  know  them  to  be  phantoms.     How  much  more 

When  in  reality  I  travel  back 

To  these  familiar  places,  does  my  life 

Go  backwards  too !  " 

After  finally  establishing  the  academy  and  bringing  it  to  a 
high  state  of  prosperity,  Mr.  Baircl,  in  the  spring  of  1828, 
gave  it  up  and  sought  a  renewal  of  health  in  the  more  active 
pursuits  in  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mr. 
Baird  was  in  many  and  perhaps  all  respects  the  best  of  Addi- 
son's teachers  before  he  entered  college.*  This  estimable  gen- 
tleman afterwards  married  a  Miss  Dubuchin,  the  daughter  of 
a  French  emigree,  and  French  and  perhaps  one  or  more  of  the 
modern  languages  were  spoken  freely  in  his  family.  Two  of 
his  sons,  when  many  years  had  rolled  by,  became  pupils  of 
Dr.  Addison  Alexander,  then  professor  in  the  Theological 
Seminary,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  kindly  and  admiring 
feeling  wTith  which  he  regarded  them,  was  not  due  alone  to 
their  acknowledged  excellence  as  men  and  students,  but  in 
part  also  to  old  recollections.  Dr.  Baird  was  a  frequent 
guest  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  and  the  master  and  pupil 
of  former  days  spent  many  a  long  hour  together  conversing 
upon  topics  of  common  interest. 

For  several  weeks  in  the' month  of  February,  1824,  the 
elder  brother  was  engaged  in  the  study  of  German,  with  Mr. 
Zadig,  a  native  of  Silesia,  who  had  relinquished  the  Jewish 
religion,  and  been  baptized.  This  was  the  beginning  of  an 
acquaintance  with  the  language,  which  was  afterwards  a  great 
delight  to  the  American  student,  and  enabled  him  to  read, 
wrrite,  sing,  and  speak  it  admirably.  At  this  time  he  paid  lit- 
tle attention  to  French,  though  acquainted  with  it.  The 
Christian  Advocate  about  this  date  published  a  communica- 
tion upon  the  Praise  of  God,  from  the  pen  of  the  same  young 
scholar  writing  under  the  signature  of  Cyprian.  He  also  con- 
tributed for  the  January  number  of  the  American  Monthly 

*  At  a  later  date  he  prepared  another  of  Dr.  Alexander's  sons  for  Nassau  Hall. 


56  EDWARD   IRVING.  [1824. 

Magazine,  a  poetical  address  to  the  New  Year,  under  the 
same  norn  de  plume.  He  was  much  interested  in  current  lite- 
rature, and  suffered  nothing  of  value  to  escape  his  eye  or  com- 
ment. The  winter  was  the  most  extraordinary  for  mildness 
of  temperature  that  had  ever  been  experienced  in  Princeton. 
Every  thing  was  sheeted  in  ice.  This  did  not  prevent  his 
fancy  from  roaming  in  the  fields  of  English  poetry  and  over 
the  objects  of  the  American  landscape.  "  Our  forests  and 
mountains,"  he  writes  to  Dr.  Hall,  "  and  waters,  surely  furnish 
scenes  second  to  none  that  European  poets  and  romancers  have 
hackneyed,  and  our  mighty  works  of  nature  might,  I  should 
suppose,  inspire  a  feeling  as  ethereal  as  ever  prompted  the 
Theban  Pindar."  * 

Edward  Irving,  whom  Addison  was  presently  to  see  and 
hear  in  his  own  chapel,  was  now  just  rising  into  fame  in  Scot- 
land. At  the  close  of  a  warm  but  careful  panegyric  of  his 
ability  as  a  writer,  the  eldest  of  the  Alexander  brothers  re- 
marked in  his  adversaria,  "  One  cannot  help  regretting  that 
a  man  who  possesses  so  great  a  share  of  originality  and 
poetic  inspiration,  and  who  might  be  so  powerful  in  a  natural 
path  of  composition,  should  wander  off  into  this  uncouth,  un- 
trodden region,  and  put  on  the  manacles  of  an  abolished  style. 
Eloquence,  and  power,  and  imaginative  soaring  are  compatible 
with  the  simj^lest,  chastest  style,  and  the  most  strict  obeisance 
to  the  canons  of  right  criticism,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  single 
instance  of  Robert  Hall." 

The  vernal  season  was  not  much  advanced  before  the  writer 
of  this  critique,  disgusted  with  the  results  of  a  mere  discursive 
reading  of  the  classics,  had  resolved  to  enter  upon  the  regular 
perusal  of  the  principal  Greek  and  Latin  writers  of  antiquity, 
pursuing  the  method  laid  down  by  Le  Clerc,  of  taking  them  in 
chronological  order.  In  the  course  of  time  he  thus  accom- 
plished all  of  the  principal  Latin  writers  of  the  classic  eras  and 
many  of  the  Church  fathers.  He  also  read  many  of  the  Greek 
writers.  He  at  first  did  not  scrutinize  the  text  with  the  eye 
of  a  critical  grammarian,  but  read  as  he  would  English,  for 

*  Fam.  Letters  I,  p.  36. 


^St.15.]  JAMES.  57 

recreation,  and  improvement  in  taste.  He  was  already  an 
exact  linguist.  His  task  for  March  3d  was  in  Homer  and 
Plautus. 

A  few  days  after  I  find  this  entry  :  "  Spent  last  evening  at 
Dr.  Lindsley's,  where  as  usual  I  was  very  kindly  and  agree- 
ably entertained.  The  Professor,  as  he  is  wont  to  do,  descanted 
upon  the  superiority  of  the  ancients  to  the  moderns,  and  urged 
many  weighty  arguments  to  prove  that  literature  was  more 
generally  diffused  among  the  Greeks  than  among  any  modern 
people.  Gained  much  useful  information."  Every  glimpse 
of  this  great  and  good  man  ought  to  be  prized  by  the  men 
of  this  day,  who  owe  so  much  to  his  labors. 

Mr.  James  Alexander  (whose  brother  Addison  was  now  a 
lad  of  not  quite  fifteen,  and  on  the  verge  of  college)  wrote 
frequently  at  this  period  for  Walsh's  Gazette  and  the  American 
Monthly  Magazine,  and  he  was  in  no  lack  of  lettei*s  contain- 
ing flattering  allusions  to  these  articles.  He  was  much  given 
to  visiting  the  theological  students  at  their  rooms,  and  found 
himself  constrained  to  adopt  a  resolution  of  greater  tempe- 
rance if  not  of  total  abstinence  in  this  respect.  The  social 
tendencies  of  Addison  were  not  so  overbearing.  It  required 
no  formal  regulation  or  conscious  purpose,  to  cause  him  to 
keep  his  room.  In  after  days  the  elder  brother  was  constantly 
making  and  breaking  resolutions  to  "  go  abroad."  He  found 
that  in  his  case  solitude  tended  to  produce  hypochondria. 
I  find  him  engaged  during  these  days  on  Plautus,  Terence, 
Homer,  certain  works  in  French,  Turretin,  Pictet,  Hodgson's 
Travels,  Marcus  Antoninus,  Leighton,  etc.  He  wrote  at  the 
time,  that  he  never  expected  to  find  studies  more  congenial  to 
his  taste  and  inclinations  than  those  in  which  the  Seminary 
students  were  then  engaged,  especially  that  of  Didactic  The- 
ology. 

On  the  night  of  the  11th  of  April,  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
hearing  Mr.  George  Bush,  afterwards  so  famous  first  as  a 
Scripture  Commentator  and  then  as  a  writer  upon  Sweden- 
borg.  Mr.  Bush  had  not  very  long  before  left  the  Semi- 
nary, where  up  to  that  time  he  had  been    pursuing  his  theo- 


58  APPOINTED    TUTOR.  [1824. 

logical  studies.  The  sermon  was  an  admirable  one,  "  rich  in 
original  and  important  matter,  adorned  with  striking  illustra- 
tions, and  remarkable  for  the  uncommon  force  of  language." 
Mr.  Bush  sometimes  reminded  his  friend  of  Chalmers  in  the 
novelty  of  his  thoughts,  and  the  powerful  mode  he  had  of 
expressing  them.  The  next  morning  he  woke  up  to  find  him- 
self appointed  tutor  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  who  were  then  sitting.  This  excited  his 
wonder,  and  aroused  some  apprehension  ;  but  he  accepted  the 
proffered  chair  (or  footstool),  and  on  the  twenty-first  of  May 
sat  down  where  he  had  never  expected  to  be  situated  in  that 
capacity,  a  tutor  of  the  college,  and  occupant  ex  officio  of  No. 
25  Nassau  Hall.  His  first  care  was  mathematics  ;  afterwards 
he  was  placed  over  the  Latin  and  Greek  classes. 

James  was  young,  and  exceedingly  sensitive,  and  at  this 
time  a  little  shamefaced.  He  was  one  of  the  most  mercurial 
of  men.  He  was  often  deeply  despondent,  but  just  as  often 
carried  away  with  high  spirits.  He  was  prepared  for  many 
mortifications  and  trials.  He  dreaded  amonsr  other  things 
having  to  confront  the  whole  body  of  students  upon  the  stage, 
and  to  pass  through  their  ranks,  and  head  them  in  entering  the 
Refectory.  "My  youth,"  he  writes,  "  is  likely  to  call  forth  the 
disrespect  and  presumption  of  some,  and  the  exercise  of  that 
authority  which  I  am  called  upon  to  assume  must  gain  me  the 
ill-will  and  ill  offices  of  those  who  are  its  objects.  Yet  this  is 
the  tax  which  every  man  must  pay,  who  is  so  happy  as  to 
aim  at  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-creatures."  He  found  his 
position  an  easier  one  than  he  supposed.  A  fellow-student 
of  his  brother  Addison,  and  pupil  of  the  young-looking,  but 
extremely  dignified  mathematical  tutor,  tells  me  that  he 
vividly  remembers  Mr.  James  Alexanders  spare  person  and 
deep  black  eye,  and  how  he  would  draw  himself  up  and  place 
a  visible  constraint  upon  his  mobile  features  when  any  thing 
of  a  laughable  nature  occurred.  His  hair  and  his  complexion 
were  both  uncommonly  dark.  His  head  was  high,  and  some- 
what narrow,  and  his  face  long  and  oval.  His  temples  were 
finely  moulded,  and  were  unusually  bare.     The  expression  of 


jLt.15.]  CHARACTERISTICS.  59 

his  ccmntenance  was  frank,  noble,  generous,  intellectual,  and 
in  a  singular  degree  captivating  and  engaging.  It  was  for- 
ever changing  with  his  changing  feelings.  He  always  stood 
upon  his  native  dignity,  and  seldom  or  never  had  cause  to 
administer  a  reproof  for  misconduct.  The  classical  felicity  of 
his  taste""and  of  his  diction  were  subjects  of  marvel.  His 
piety  was  as  evident  as  it  was  unobtrusive.  He  was  eminently 
popular,  without  once  letting  down  the  bars  of  discipline. 
By  many,  he  was  beloved  with  an  extraordinary  affection; 
by  some  with  an  almost  passionate  devotion.  These  remarks 
apply  particularly  to  the  time  during  which  he  occupied  the 
chair  of  a  professor,  but  are  not  false  in  their  reference  to  the 
period  of  his  tutorship.  On  May  22d  he  writes,  "Made  my 
first  attempt  to-day  at  hearing  a  recitation.  The  Sophomores 
recited  to  me  in  Algebra.  Was  astonished  at  nothing  so 
much  to-day,  as  the  self-possession  which  I  was  enabled  to 
exercise  Atto  tov  Oeou.  My  room  is  an  agreeable  one ;  my 
accommodations  delightful;  the  fare  in  the  Refectory  excel- 
lent ;  the  students,  hitherto,  complying,  and  all  things  ordered 
in  a  way  to  suit  my  wishes." 

He  resolves  about  this  time  to  give  one-tenth  of  his  salary 
($300)  for  charitable  institutions.  He  was  always  open-handed 
in  his  expenditures  of  every  sort  for  the  poor,  and  for  sufferers 
of  every  description.  It  was  never  hard  to  persuade  him  that 
the  money  solicited  was  needed,  and  would  be  well  bestowed. 

The  text-book  in  college  was  Bonnycastle's  Algebra.  His 
taste  for  this  study  had  been  marked,  and  obtained  public 
notice  when  he  was  a  student.  His  enthusiasm  on  the  subject 
is  very  much  in  character. 

"That  the  pursuit  is  delightful  I  have  the  experience  of  this  day  to 
prove :  amid  all  the  difficulties  of  this  morning's  toil,  the  delight 
occasioned  hy  the  sudden  flashing  of  the  truth  or  relation  anxiously 
sought  is  transporting.  The  ecstacies  of  Pythagoras  and  the  abstrac- 
tion of  Archimedes  excite  my  wonder  no  longer." 

During  one  of  his  vacations  he  visited  Philadelphia,  in 
hopes  of  invigorating  his  health ;  and  there  partook  of  the 
delightful  hospitality  of  Mrs.  Hall,  the  mother  of  the  friend 


60  VISITS    PHILADELPHIA.  [1824. 

whom  he  had  known  from  boyhood  and  with  whom  he  con- 
tinued to  correspond  for  forty  years.  While  in  the  city  he 
yielded  himself  up  too  much,  he  thought,  to  the  attractions 
of  gay  company  and  of  seductive  letters.  He  frequented  the 
shops  of  the  booksellers  ;  saw  all  the  new  prints ;  gazed  with 
delight  upon  the  clean  and  lively  streets  and  the  decorated 
windows ;  listened  to  much  good  music  from  sweet  instru- 
ments and  yet  sweeter  voices ;  tasted  all  the  joy  of  friendship, 
and  felt  the  glow  of  what  is  judged  to  be  innocent  hilarity. 
He  returned  to  his  quiet  room  in  college  to  experience  a  pain- 
ful reaction  in  his  sensibilities.  His  conscience  smote  him  on 
the  score  of  worldly  conformity.  He  became  greatly  revived 
in  his  religious  ardour,  and  much  exercised  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  the  students.  On  one  occasion  at  a  prayer-meet- 
ing his  feelings  overcame  him,  and  he  "burst  into  a  pro- 
fusion of  tears." 

A  severe  attack  of  sickness,  which  befell  the  older  brother 
in  this  year,  occasioned  a  letter  of  mock  condolence  from 
Addison  in  Latin  hexameters,  four  verses  of  which  are  here 
given,  which  breathe  an  affectionate  spirit  and  shed  a  twinkle 
of  humour. 

"  Crede  mihi,  juvenis  docilis,  me  maxime  taedet 
Audire  segrotum  esse  virum,  tam  longe  celebrem. 
Pulyeribus  (quid  tu  Anglice  vocas  ?)  te  cumularint, 
Et  medicus,  veneranda  materque,  AnEliza,  niger  Ned." 

The  piece  will  be  found  complete  in  the  Familiar  Letters. 
These  comic  effusions  were  often  made  the  channel  of  true 
and  even  tender  regard,  as  any  one  can  see  was  the  case  in  the 
present  instance.  The  two  boys  were  attached  to  one  an- 
other with  a  devotion  that  is  rare  even  among  brothers,  and 
that  continued  through  life.  There  is  a  sense  in  which  it 
might  be  said  that  Addison  had  no  friend  but  James.  When 
James  died,  Addison  was  restless  and  inconsolable,  and  soon 
after  followed  him  to  heaven. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Tue  College  of  New  Jersey  was  at  this  time  under  the 
Presidency  of  Dr.  Carnahan,  during  whose  administration  it 
enjoyed  a  high  measure  of  prosperity.  Dr.  Ashbel  Green  had 
but  lately  retired  from  the  post.  As  a  President  he  had  been 
both  feared  and  honoured.  In  the  instructions  of  his  depart- 
ment, Dr.  Green  had  succeeded  in  reviving  the  traditions  of  a 
Witherspoon  and  a  Smith.  None  could  question  his  attain- 
ments in  theology  and  the  kindred  sciences,  and  all  without 
exception  acknowledged  and  venerated  his  exalted  character. 
He  was  moreover  the  master  of  a  grave  and  sonorous  elo- 
quence. Dr.  Green  was  the  last  of  the  old  school  of  Presi- 
dents, of  whom  Burr,  Davies,  Finley,  Witherspoon  and  Smith 
had  been,  with  Dickinson,  the  first  of  the  series,  the  models 
in  a  former  generation.  The  lamented  Carnahan  was  the  con- 
necting link  between  the  old  school  and  the  new.  The  recent 
retirement  of  President  Maclean  marks  another  era  like  that 
of  the  retirement  of  Finley.  The  Vice-President  and  Professor 
of  Languages  was  the  Rev.  Philip  Lindsley,  D.D.,  whose  col- 
lected works  have  recently  been  published  ;  *  a  man  of  rare 
scholarship  and  of  the  ripest  classical  culture.  It  may  be 
safely  averred,  that  this  country  has  not  often  seen  the  equal 
of  Dr.  Lindsley  as  a  student  and  teacher  of  the  Greek  and  Latin 
tongues,  and  as  a  man  imbued,  with  the  living  spirit  of  an- 
tiquity. He  was  a  suggestive  scholar  rather  than  a  mere  drill- 
master,  and  was  one  of  those  instructors  whose  main  forte 

*  "  The  Works  of  Philip  Lindsley,  D.  D.,  formerly  Vice-President  and  Presi- 
dent Elect  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  Princeton ;  and  late  President  of  the 
University  of  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Edited  by  LeRoy  J.  Halsey,  D.  D.,  Pro- 
fessor in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Northwest.  3  volumes.  Philadel- 
phia: J.  P.  Lippincott  &  Co.,  18G6." 


62  DR.    LINDSLEY.  [1824. 

seemed  to  lie  in  bringing  out  what  is  in  the  best  men.  A 
greatly  honoured  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Vir- 
ginia is  my  authority  for  saying  that,  while  he  was  at  Prince- 
ton, Dr.  Lindsley  was  of  invaluable  aid  to  those  students  who 
knew  how  to  use  him.  He  distrusted  his  own  administrative 
talents,  which  were  not  believed  by  the  young  men  to  be  very 
considerable.  In  this  impression  the  young  men  were  proba- 
bly mistaken.  Dr.  Lindsley  was  sensitively  modest,  and  at 
that  time  had  not  been  tried.  He  also  laboured  under  the  de- 
lusion that  he  could  not  preach.  In  both  capacities,  that  of  a 
teacher  and  that  of  a  minister  of  the  word,  he  afterwards 
showed  himself  to  be  a  master. 

His  life,  as  one  of  his  most  accomplished  pupils  and  most 
ardent  and  grateful  admirers  has  said,  was  preeminently  that 
of  an  instructor  and  educator  of  youth.  He  set  about  the 
work  of  self-culture  before  he  was  thirteen,  and  left  the  College 
of  New  Jersey  as  a  graduate  before  he  was  nineteen.  He 
began  the  work  of  teacher  as  an  humble  usher  in  an  academy, 
and  then  filled  successively  the  posts  of  tutor,  professor,  vice- 
president,  and  president  of  a  college.  All  his  writings  and 
most  of  his  discourses  have  a  bearing  on  the  work  of  educa- 
tion. This  was  his  meat  and  drink.  The  University  of  Nash- 
ville is  his  noble  monument ;  but  nobler  than  all  is  the  long 
race  of  his  pupils  who  have  risen  to  eminence  through  his 
instrumentality.  The  range  of  his  reading  was  so  great,  that 
there  was  scarcely  a  topic  of  interest  on  which  he  was  not 
extensively  and  even  profoundly  informed.  He  was  an  accom- 
plished theoretical  statesman,  versed  in  the  sciences  of  govern- 
ment, finance  and  political  economy,  and  in  all  questions 
touching  public  morals,  the  administration  of  justice,  and  civil 
or  religious  liberty.  His  knowledge  of  the  classics  was  almost 
unequalled  in  his  day.  His  acquaintance  with  the  Belles  Let- 
tres  of  various  languages  seemed  unlimited,  and  his  love  of 
literature  was  a  passion.  His  administrative  and  executive 
ability  is  thought  by  those  who  knew  him  in  the  West,  to  have 
been  of  the  highest  order.  He  distrusted  himself  in  the  pulpit, 
and  preferred  the  position  of  a  hearer ;  yet  his  biographer,  Dr. 


^Et.15.]  HIS    PUPILS.  63 

Halsey,  does  not  doubt  that  "  the  grand  element  of  his  power 
and  of  his  success  was  his  magnificent  preaching." 

He  has  left  important  monuments  in  his  published  writings, 
but,  as  one  of  his  pupils,*  who  seems  animated  by  a  spirit  of 
filial  enthusiasm,  well  says,  while  these  "show  the  brilliancy 
of  his  genius,  the  peculiarities  of  his  mind,  the  ardour  of  his 
nature,  and  the  depth  and  earnestness  of  his  spirit,  his  nobler 
works, — '  living  epistles,  known  and  read  of  all  men,'  are  his 
two-thousand  pupils,  who,  in  all  spheres  of  active  usefulness, 
have  been  perpetuating  his  influence;  and  having  received 
from  his  generous  hand  the  lighted  torch  of  knowledge,  they 
have  handed  it  to  the  generation  now  succeeding,  and  thus 
the  blazing  link,  growing  brighter  as  years  pass,  shall  continue 
to  descend  as  an  heirloom  of  priceless  value.1'  *  *  *  Among 
these  pupils  were  the  Alexander  brothers,  who  never  ceased 
to  speak  of  their  old  preceptor  in  terms  of  cordial  regard  and 
sincere  veneration.  Such  men  as  Dr.  Philip  Lindsley  are 
blessings  to  the  church  and  to  the  world.  They  can  never  be 
forgotten  by  those  who  prize  the  fruits  of  piety  and  sound 
learning.  Their  jewels  they  have  left  as  a  legacy  behind  them, 
in  the  persons  of  those  who  have  received  their  impress,  and 
are  animated  by  their  unearthly  sentiments.  By  these  their 
living  memorials  they  will  be  remembered  and  honoured  by 
children's  children,  when  the  titled  desolators  of  history  shall 
be  mentioned  only  to  be  execrated.  It  is  pleasant  to  know 
that  Princeton  was  graced  at  this  particular  epoch  with  several 
literary  clubs  or  debating  societies,  the  meetings  of  which 
proved  highly  interesting  to  the  youthful  contestants.  Chief 
among  these,  in  the  estimation  of  the  young  people  generally, 
were  the  Round  Table  and  the  Chironomian.  The  question 
before  the  Round  Table  one  night  was,  "  Ought  religion  to  be 
supported  by  law  ?  "  Mr.  James  Alexander  advocated  the 
affirmative,  and  was  gratified  to  find  that  he  had  more  freedom 
than  formerly  in  speaking  extempore.  The  question  before 
the  Theological  Society  of  the  Seminary,  the  week  previous, 

*  Chancellor  Waddel,  in  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Review. 


64  POWER    OF   MEMORY.  [1824 

was  upon  the  propriety  of  instrumental  music  in  churches. 
Mr.  James  Alexander  defended  the  negative. 

The  elder  brother  of  the  two  Alexanders  was  still  in  the 
seminary,  and  refers  in  his  diary  about  this  time  to  "  my  friend 
Bethune,"  who  seems  to  have  been  a  fellow-student.  They 
were  fast  friends  through  lite.  This  was  the  celebrated  orator, 
debater,  poet,  rhetorician,  lecturer,  preacher,  the  Rev.  George 
W.  Bethune,  D.  D.,  afterwards  of  Brooklyn,  1ST.  Y. 

The  name  of  this  genial  clergyman  brings  up  an  anecdote, 
which  I  may  as  well  tell  here.  The  minute  history  of  these 
past  times  soon  fades  out,  and  the  old  inscriptions  on  the 
palimpsest  are  not  often  restored.  Sometimes,  it  is  true,  the 
labours  of  some  Pepys,  or  Evelyn,  are  brought  to  light,  and 
the  magical  hieroglyphics  start  out  once  more  before  us  in 
all  their  former  significance.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  was 
always  himself  a  firm  believer  in  the  doctrine,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  impress  it  upon  the  minds  of  his  classes  at  Prince- 
ton, which  has  since  been  illustrated  in  so  solemn  a  manner  by 
De  Quincey  and  Coleridge,  that  we  never  forget  anything :  in 
other  words,  that  there  is  an  imjwrtant  sense  in  which  there 
is  no  such  thing  as  forgetting.  The  word  forget,  as  has  so 
often  been  said  before,  is  obviously  ambiguous,  being  the 
opposite  of  remember  as  well  as  of  recollect.  The  doctrine  in 
question  is  that  though  we  fail  to  recollect  many  things,  and 
though  there  is  the  greatest  diversity  among  different  minds 
as  regards  the  power  of  recollection,  we  never  forget  in  the 
sense  of  failing  to  remember  or  hold  in  memory.  The  hidden 
tablets  still  retain  the  traces  that  have  been  originally  imprinted 
on  them  ;  and  in  the  moments  that  precede  death  (or  what 
would  have  proved  to  be  death  but  for  the  interposition  of 
Providence)  these  traces  have  been  known  to  flash  out  upon 
the  startled  conscience  with  instantaneous  rapidity,  and  with 
the  most  perfect  and  terrible  distinctness,  so  as  apparently  to 
afford  to  the  soul  a  sudden  and  comprehensive  view  of  all  that 
it  had  ever  known.  Dr.  Alexander  had  been  lecturing  on  this 
subject  one  day  to  his  theological  pupils,  and  the  young  men 
had  repaired  to  the  Seminary  Refectory  to  get  dinner,  when 


jEt.15.]  PRINCETON    OF    1824.  65 

the  conversation  at  table  fell  upon  the  topic  that  had  been 
presented  to  them  in  the  class-room  that  morning.  One  of 
the  students  was  noted  for  a  disposition  to  call  in  question 
the  conclusions  of  his  preceptor,  and  on  the  occasion  to  which 
I  now  refer  boldly  proclaimed  his  dissent  from  the  position 
that  had  been  cautiously  taken  by  his  venerable  instructor. 
"I  know"  said  he,  "  there  are  some  things  I  have  totally  for- 
gotten, and  shall  never  be  able  to  recall ! "  Dr.  Bethune,  who 
was  a  student  at  Princeton  at  the  time,  and  who  was  also 
boarding  at  the  Refectory,  a  man  through  life  distinguished 
for  his  sparkling  wit  and  repartee,  immediately  threw  the 
table  into  roars  of  laughter  by  crying  out  in  his  comical 
way,  "  Name  one  of  them,  Sir ! "  I  give  this  anecdote  on 
the  authority  of  the  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander,  from  whose 
lips  I  heard  it. 

The  Princeton  of  1824  contained  a  number  of  well-known 
families  and  many  interesting  people,  besides  one  or  two  justly 
distinguished  public  men.  Dr.  Carnahan,  as  I  have  stated, 
was  President  of  the  College  when  Addison  Alexander  entered 
it  as  a  student.  The  Rev.  Luther  Halsey  was  Professor  of 
Chemistry  and  Natural  Philosophy ;  Dr.  Maclean  of  Mathe- 
matics, and  my  informant  *  thinks  of  Latin  (temporarily  sup- 
plying the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  removal  of  Lindsley  to 
Nashville) ;  and  Robert  B.  Patton  of  Greek  and  Belles  Lettres. 
The  latter  is  considered  to  have  been  a  fine  Greek  scholai-,  and 
a  gentleman  of  cultivated  taste  and  manners,  though  in 
wretched  health.  The  tutors  were,  Messrs.  Lowry,  Talmadge 
and  Aikman  ;  but  with  these  neither  Mr.  Alexander  nor  any 
of  his  classmates  had  any  thing  to  do ;  he  and  Mr.  Napton 
having  entered  Juniors.  The  standard  of  scholarship  in  the 
ancient  languages  (at  least  before  Mr.  Patton's  advent)  was 
greatly  below  that  which  my  informant  found  subsequently  at 
the  University  of  Virginia ;  and  none  of  the  modern  languages 
were  taught.  "  The  old  routine,"  he  says,  "  or  curriculum 
then  prevailing  in  the  Northern  Colleges  was  not  designed  for 

*  Judge  Napton. 


66  COLLEGE    CURRICULUM.  [1824. 

the  attainment  of  the  abstruse  or  profound  depths  or  heights 
of  science,  or  for  its  application  to  practical  use,  nor  even  for  a 
scholastic  and  critical  knowledge  of  Latin  and  Greek.*  Gram- 
mars and  dictionaries,  those  helps  to  the  youthful  traveller  up 
the  steep,"  were  very  imperfect,  he  thinks,  as  compared  with 
the  Zumpts,  Madvigs,  Buttmanns,  Matthiaes,  etc.,  since  intro- 
duced ;  "  and  the  classics  were  still  read  in  the  old  Delphine 
editions  with  side-notes  and  ordo  in  Latin,  and  foot-notes  to 
point  out  the  most  attractive  passages."  He  is  not  clear,  how- 
ever, that  any  greater  proficiency  is  attained  under  the  new 
system  of  adjuncts  than  under  the  old,  rugged  and  rough  as  it 
was.  The  inquisitive  and  ambitious  student  will,  he  thinks, 
attain  his  end  under  either — perhaps  more  thoroughly  under 
the  first,  "  as  people  learn  more  of  a  country  over  which  they 
travel  on  foot,  than  those  who  pass  through  it  in  railroad 
cars." 

The  following  picture  of  the  old  Commencements  cannot  be 
spared  :  "  Commencement  was  a  great  day  in  Princeton  in  old 
times — it  may  be  yet — but  my  conjecture  is,  that  along  with 

*  The  Centennial  Address  has  this  allusion  to  the  same  subject :  "  The  cur- 
riculum has  been  perpetually  enlarged,  with  the  increase  of  knowledge  in  the 
world.  .  .  .  The  earliest  period  of  our  history  was  before  the  very  rise  of 
certain  great  sciences  in  their  present  form."  .  .  .  And  a  little  before  this 
occurs  the  following  :  "  Sound  methods  of  instruction,  rather  old  than  new, 
have  continued  through  every  stage."  The  earlier  Presidents  had  all  been 
learned  men,  in  the  most  exact  as  well  as  the  most  enlarged  sense.  Their  schol- 
arship, though  it  could  not  boast  the  exquisite  finish  of  Oxford  or  Cambridge, 
was  of  the  type  then  prevailing  in  the  great  universities  of  England.  None  of 
the  first  batch  of  Presidents  occupied  the  seat  long.  But  Dr.  Witherspoon  in 
his  twenty-six  years  of  administration  stamped  a  new  character  on  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  college.  To  him  must  be  ascribed  the  introduction  of  the  Edin- 
burgh course.  Much  of  this  influence  had  worn  out  at  the  period  during  which 
Mr.  Alexander  was  a  student,  and  had  again  and  yet  again  to  be  renewed  and 
extended.  The  genuine  learning  of  Dr.  Lindsley  was  of  the  old  school,  and  his 
removal  from  Princeton  was  a  misfortune  that  for  the  time  seemed  irreparable. 
Nor  were  there  wanting  other  men  of  commanding  talents  in  the  faculty  at  this 
period.  But  it  cannot  be  asserted  with  too  much  emphasis  that  the  future  in- 
terpreter owed  little  to  his  professional  teachers.  He  was  an  original  genius 
and  "  a  self-made  man." 


jEt.  15.]  OLD    COMMENCEMENT.  67 

other  old-fashioned  institutions  and  customs,  it  has  o-one  to 
the  '  tomb  of  the  Capulets.'  On  this  day,  during  my  time,  all 
the  surrounding  country  was  (as  Mr.  C.  J.  Ingersoll  would 
have  said)  ejaculated  into  the  village,  and  such  rows  of  wag- 
ons, booths,  stalls,  tents  ;  such  huge  piles  of  melons  (out  of 
season)  ;  such  barrels  of  cider  (a  choice  beverage  in  New  Jer- 
sey) ;  and  such  a  concourse  of  people  of  every  variety  of  shade 
and  conformation,  physically,  morally  and  intellectually,  could 
be  seen  nowhere  else."  He  remembers  especially  the  bril- 
liancy of  the  fire-works  and  the  illuminated  College  edifice  at 
night,  which  were  the  admiration  of  the  youthful  spectators. 
"Then  there  was  the  regular  anniversary  ball  at  Joline's  tav- 
ern, who  was  successor  to  and  perhaps  once  the  rival  of  the 
famous  English  publican,  George  Folet,  whose  sign  of  the  Red 
Lion  was  still  swinging  between  two  posits  in  my  days,  though 
probably  of  ante-Revolutionary  origin.  This  ball  attracted  ail 
the  elite  of  the  village,  and  some  additions  from  the  fashiona- 
ble circles  of  the  two  great  cities  lying  on  either  side  of  it; 
and  the  music  was  by  the  famous  Philadelphia  band  of 
Johnson." 

In  regard  to  Princeton  society,  male  and  female,  outside  of 
the  two  great  schools  of  theology  and  literature,  the  same 
writer  says,  "  The  Stocktons  were  the  leading  family  of  the 
place.     At  their  head,  in  '24,  was  Richard  Stockton,*  a  great 

*  Whose  father,  Richard  Stockton  (the  grandfather  of  the  Commodore),  was 
a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  "  au  ardent 
defender  of  liberty,"  and  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  In  this 
cause  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  estate  and  library,  and  personal  imprisonment 
in  New  York.  He  died  at  Morven,  at  the  age  of  fifty.  This  was  in  1781.  He 
had  been  a  trustee  and  warm  friend  of  the  college  as  well  as  of  its  great  foun- 
ders. Of  Richard  Stockton  (the  father  of  the  Commodore)  "  it  is  enough  to  say 
that,  among  the  members  of  a  bar  which  holds  its  place  with  any  in  America, 
he  maintained  by  common  consent  the  unrivalled  precedence."  "  lie  was  long 
the  honour  of  Princeton,  and  a  guardian  of  the  college.  His  voice  of  eloquent 
argument  and  lofty  invective  was  heard  in  Congress  ;  and  he  sent  five  sons  to 
the  college,  of  whom  one  is  now  in  a  distant  ocean  on  the  service  of  his  coun- 
try."— Centennial  Address,  1847.  Richard  Stockton,  the  father  of  the  late 
Commodore  Robert  F.  Stockton  of  the  Old  Navy,  died  in  1779,  the  same  year 


08  PRINCETON    SOCIETY  [1824. 

lawyer,  as  I  have  heard  and  do  not  douht ;  having  read  his 
argument  in  a  celebrated  and  very  important  case  that  went 
up  from  New  Jersey  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  involving  the  title  of  one  Love  to  a  large  landed  estate 
abandoned  by  him  when  the  secession  of  the  Colonies  from 
Great  Britain  occurred.  Mr.  S.'s  practice  was  chiefly  in 
Trenton  and  Philadelphia.  He  was  a  large  man,  of  rather 
un  wieldly  dimensions,  bordering  on  extreme  obesity,  incapa- 
ble of  much  locomotion  on  foot,  and  therefore  I  presume, 
was  seldom  seen  in  the  village  adjoining  which  was  his  resi- 
dence." He  does  not  remember  to  have  seen  Mr.  Stockton 
more  than  once  or  twice,  and  one  of  these  occasions  was  indeli- 
bly impressed  on  his  recollection  by  an  interview  which  he 
witnessed  between  Mr.  Stockton  and  Charles  Fcntoii  Mercer 
of  Virginia,  who  had  been  appointed  to  deliver  a  discourse  be- 
fore the  two  literary  Societies  of  the  College.  There  was  a 
mixture  of  the  grand  and  grotesque  about  the  scene.  "They 
met  in  the  Hall,  where  the  Trustees,  Professors,  students  and 
other  spectators  had  previously  assembled,  and  it  was  rather 
ludicrous  to  observe  the  extreme  difficulty  which  Mr.  Stockton 
had  in  responding  with  corresponding  civilities  to  the  multi- 
plied bows  with  which  Mercer  greeted  him — the  latter  being 
a  small  and  flexible  person,  of  rather  French  manners,  and 
both  gentlemen  of  the  old  school,  which  exacted  more  cere- 
mony than  modern  times  tolerate." 

The  writer,  after  speaking  of  Mr.  Stockton's  gallant  son, 
the  Commodore,  goes  on  to  mention  the  Craigs  and  Potters, 
Thomsons  and  Fields,  families  which  still  have  their  representa- 
tives in  Princeton,  "  and  the  Bayards,  a  family  of  historic 
fame  both  in  Delaware  and  New  Jersey."  "Mrs.  Maclean, 
the  mother  of  the  late  President,*  and  sister  of  Commodore 

with  President  Wifherspoon,  who  had  shortly  before  given  up  his  house  on  the 
College  grounds  to  his  son-in-law  Dr.  S.  Stanhope  Smith,  and  removed  to  the 
place  still  known  as  Tusculum. 

*  Of  John  Maclean,  the  father  of  the  President,  the  Centennial  Address  says, 
"  A  name  beloved  in  the  recollections  of  every  student,  during  the  17  years  of 
his  residence  ;  a  scholar,  a  benignant  friend,  a  wise  preceptor ;  one  of  the  earli- 


jSt.15.]  AND    CELEBRITIES.  69 

Bainbridge,  a  naval  officer  of  great  distinction  in  the  war  of 
1812,  was  also  there  receiving  friends  and  strangers  with  in- 
discriminate hospitality,  and  with  her  lived  her  daughter, 
Mary,  the  gentlest  of  her  sex,  a  model  of  every  female  excel- 
lence, and  esteemed  by  rich  and  pooi*,  high  and  low." 

My  informant  *  then  goes  on  to  say  that  "  near  by  lived 
the  two  daughters  of  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  ci-devant 
President  of  the  College,  Mrs.  Salomans  and  Mrs.  Pintard, 
the  former  with  two  attractive  daughters,  one  of  whom  mar- 
ried my  friend  and  school-fellow,  Alfred  A.  Woodhull.  Con- 
spicuous among  the  fashionable  ladies  of  the  place  wTere  the 
Passages  (of  French  extraction,  as  I  infer  from  the  name) ; 
the  Thomases,  one  of  whom  married  Mr.  Alston  of  South 
Carolina,  and  the  other  Gen.  Lytle  of  Cincinnati,  at  one  time 
a  prominent  Congressman  from  that  district;  the  Whites; 
the  Renshaws,  daughters  of  Commodore  Renshaw  ;  the  Mor- 
fords,  daughters  of  an  old  Revolutionary  soldier  who  was 
postmaster,  one  of  whom  married  a  McCormick  of  Winches- 
ter, Va. ;  and  I  may  add,  a  daughter  of  President  Carnahan 
who  married  Mr.  McDonald." 

Among  the  professional  characters  of  the  day,  besides  some 
that  have  been  named,  he  remembers  "the  three  lawyers, 
Green,  Bayard,  and  Hamilton  ;  a  younger  lawyer  of  ability, 
but  indolent,  named  Walter  Skelton  ;  the  Van  Cleves,  the 
father  an  eminent  physician, — one  of  the  sons,  Horatio,  now  in 
the  U.  S.  army ;  the  Woodhulls,  the  father  being  minister  of 
the  parish,  and  the  oldest  son,  John,  becoming  distinguished 

est  to  explode  the  Priestleyan  bubble  of  phlogiston,  and  to  introduce  the  new 
chemical  revelations  of  Lavoisier."  Dr.  Ashbel  Green,  the  former  President, 
was  also  living,  though  he  had  perhaps  already  removed  to  Philadelphia.  Dr. 
Carnahan  succeeded  him  before  the  time  of  Addison's  entrance  as  a  student. 
"  The  time  has  not  come  to  write  of  living  greatness  and  goodness.  Otherwise 
we  might  dwell  on  the  ten  years'  toil  of  President  Green,  whom  we  hoped  to 
meet,  but  whom  the  weight  of  six  and  eighty  years  presses  so  heavily  that  he 
cannot  revisit  the  spot  where,  years  ago,  he  pronounced  the  valedictory  in  the 
presence  of  Washington,  and  received  his  person-.il  applause." — Dr.  J.  W.  Alex- 
ander, Centennial  Address,  184*7. 

*  I  have  made  free  use  of  Judge  Napton'a  own  words. 


10  MR.    JANVIER.  [1824. 

in  his  profession  of  medicine  ;  the  Wilsons,  Jolines,  &c.  YoilH 
tout/"* 

*  One  of  the  most  remarkable  men  in  Princeton  at  the  time  was  undoubtedly 
a  coach-painter  named  Francis  D.  Janvier,  who  is  fully  described  in  the  fifteenth 
chapter  of  the  American  Mechanic  (see  pp.  80,  85),  under  the  style  of  August. 
This  admirable  person  deserves  mention  by  the  side  of  such  men  as  Pendrill, 
Bloomfield,  and  Ferguson.  The  author  introduces  his  description  with  the  fol- 
lowing lines  from  Wordsworth. 

*    *    *    "  Strongest  minds 
Are  often  those  of  whom  the  noisy  world 
Hears  least ;  else  surely  this  man  had  not  left 
His  graces  unrevealed  and  unproclaimed. 
But  as  the  mind  was  filled  with  inward  light, 
So  not  without  distinction  had  he  lived, 
Beloved  and  honoured— far  as  he  was  known. 
And  something  that  may  serve  to  set  in  view 
The  feeling  pleasures  of  his  loneliness, 
His  observations,  and  the  thoughts  his  mind 
Had  dealt  with — I  will  here  record." 

After  a  little  further  prefacing,  the  account  runs  on  thus  :  "  It  is  now  more 
than  twenty-three  years  since  I  became  acquainted  with  a  coach-painter  in  a  village 
of  New  Jersey.  At  that  time  he  occupied  a  very  small  shop  adjacent  to  a  large 
buildiug  which  was  used  by  the  coach-maker.  Even  in  early  youth  I  was  led 
to  observe  something  in  the  manner  and  countenance  of  this  man,  indicative  of 
superior  reflection.  I  shall  conceal  his  name  under  that  of  August,  which  will 
point  him  out  to  many  who  knew  him.  As  I  advanced  in  life,  I  gained  access 
to  his  painting-room  and  his  dwelling  ;  and  as  he  was  particularly  kind  to  young 
persons,  I  passed  in  his  company  some  of  the  pleasantest  hours  which  it  is  my 
fortune  to  remember.  August  was  then  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  his  character 
and  habits  were  fully  unfolded.  In  looking  back  upon  the  acquaintances  of 
many  years,  I  can  declare  with  sincerity,  that  I  have  never  known  a  more  ac- 
complished man.  In  his  trade  he  was  exemplary  and  approved.  His  taste  led 
him  to  make  excursions  beyond  the  sphere  of  his  daily  work  ;  and  I  call  to 
mind  a  number  of  portraits  and  fancy-pieces  which  ornamented  his  own  house 
and  the  apartments  of  his  friends.  I  am  not  prepared  to  say,  however,  that  he 
was  eminent  as  an  artist.  But  there  were  various  other  walks  of  life  in  which 
he  was  a  master.  He  was  fond  of  reading  to  a  degree  which  wholly  interfered 
with  the  care  of  his  business  and  his  health.  Indeed  he  was  a  devourer  of 
books.  Attached  to  his  easel  one  was  sure  to  find  an  open  volume  ;  and  some- 
times he  caused  a  favourite  boy  to  read  aloud  while  he  was  grinding  his  colours. 
I  well  remember  that,  on  a  certain  day  when  he  had  to  walk  five  miles  to  do  a 
piece  of  work,  he  travelled  the  whole  distance  book  in  hand  ;  it  was  a  quarto 
volume  of  Hobhouse's  Travels.  There  was  nothing  in  the  whole  circle  of 
English  literature,  so  far  as  it  is  traversed  by  most  professed  scholars,  with 


^Et.15.]  MR.    JANVIER.  71 

Among  the  oddities  of  the  place  were  the  brothers  Jemmy 

which  August  was  not  familiar.  He  had  made  himself  master  of  the  French 
language,  spoke  it  with  some  facility,  and  had  perused  its  chief  treasures. 
Among  other  evidences  of  his  application,  he  put  into  my  hand  a  laborious 
translation  from  the  French,  of  a  work  by  Leatude  detailing  the  events  of  his 
long  and  cruel  imprisonment  ;  a  narrative  not  unlike  that  of  Baron  Trenck." 
*  *  *  41  j  nave  yivjjiy  before  my  mind  the  scene  when  August  was  busy 
with  his  palette,  in  a  rude  loft,  and  a  litttle  boy  seated  on  a  work-bench  was 
pouring  into  his  delighted  ear  the  early  fictions  of  the  author  of  Waverley. 
Sir  Walter  himself  would  have  been  repaid  by  the  spectacle. 

"  Such  tastes  and  habits  gave  a  richness  to  his  mind,  and  a  refinement  to  his 
manners.  August  was  fully  suited  to  mingle  with  any  group  of  scientific  or 
literary  men.  His  love  of  talk  was  unbounded,  and  his  hilarity  most  genial.  I 
remember  no  acquaintance  whose  discourse  was  so  stimulating  or  instructive. 
Many  an  hour  of  summer  days  I  whiled  away  in  his  shop,  listening  to  the  sen- 
timent, humour,  and  wit,  which  would  have  graced  any  company  I  ever  met. 
All  this  was  without  a  trace  of  self-conceit  or  arrogance.  His  conversation  was 
the  easy  overflowing  of  a  full  mind.  It  was  always  animated,  and  always  arch : 
there  was  a  twinkle  of  unutterable  mirth  in  his  expressive  eye,  which  won  re- 
gard and  awakened  expectation. 

"  August  was  a  musician.  This  delightful  art  had  been  his  solace  from  child- 
hood. He  played  on  several  instruments,  but  the  clarionet  was  that  of  which 
he  had  the  greatest  mastery.  Often  have  I  heard  its  clear  melodious  tones  for 
successive  hours  on  a  summer  evening.  He  seemed  to  use  it  as  the  outlet  for 
those  musings  which  found  no  vent  among  his  ordinary  associations ;  for  most 
of  his  performances  were  voluntaries  and  fitful  capriccios.  Yet  he  was  a  sight- 
singer,  and  read  even  intricate  music  with  ease.  It  was  one  of  his  whims  to 
have  a  number  of  flageolets,  lessening  by  degrees  until  the  smallest  was  a  mere 
bird-pipe,  with  the  ventages  almost  too  near  together  for  adult  fingers.  Such 
is  the  power  of  association,  that  to  this  day  I  sometimes  amuse  myself  with  that 
feeblest  of  all  instruments,  a  French  flageolet,  in  affectionate  recollection  of 
poor  August. 

"  I  have  heard  that  he  sometimes  wrote  verses,  but  have  never  been  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  alight  on  any  specimen.  August  was  a  man  of  poetic  tendencies, 
living  habitually  above  the  influences  of  a  sordid  world,  and  seeking  his  pleas- 
ures in  a  region  beyond  the  visible  horizon  of  daily  scenes.  In  this  connexion, 
I  ought  with  great  seriousness  to  mention,  that  during  the  years  of  my  ac- 
quaintance with  him,  he  was  an  open  professor  of  Christian  faith,  which  he  ex- 
emplified by  a  life  of  purity,  patience,  and  benevolence.  His  family  was  a  re- 
ligious household.  When  he  came  to  enter  the  valley  of  poignant  trial  with 
which  his  life  terminated,  he  is  said  to  have  evinced  great  joyfulness  of  confi- 
dence in  the  propitiation  and  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


72  THE    MCCARRIERS.  U824. 

and  Joe  McCarrier,*  the  college  servants.  The  subjoined  ac- 
count of  Jemmy  is  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander, 
and  was  written  while  he  was  himself  a  tutor,  and  living  in 
Nassau  Hall.  Addison  had  not  then  entered  the  institution, 
but  soon  came  into  close  and  amusing  relations  with  the  gen- 
erous but  testy  Irishman  and  his  brother  Joe.f     "  It  may  not 

*  Or  McCarryher. 

\  One  of  the  earliest  of  Addison's  extant  compositions  of  the  facetious  order 
is  one  he  wrote  probably  when  a  Junior,  that  is  at  sixteen,  and  is  a  broad 
parody  ou  the  well-known  verses  of  Campbell.  Its  connection  with  the  matter 
now  in  hand  is,  that  it  brings  in  an  allusion  to  the  brothers  Jemmy  and  Joe 
McCarrier.  I  give  as  much  of  it  as  now  exists,  or  perhaps  was  ever  written. 
It  is  only  necessary  to  say  in  explanation  for  the  benefit  of  persons  who  did  not 
study  at  Princeton,  that  it  contains  references  to  the  final  examination  of  the 
Senior  class  for  degrees,  to  Cavallo's  Natural  Philosophy,  then  a  text-book  at 
college,  and  to  the  horn  by  which  the  students  were  summoned  to  their  meals 
in  the  old  refectory  adjoining  the  college;  and  that  "  stumping"  and  "rowling" 
are  the  slang  terms  respectively  for  the  failure  to  recite  when  called  on,  and 
brilliant  success  in  recitation  or  speaking;  while  the  first-honour  man  of  course 
obtains  "  first  grade,"  and  the  good  for  nothing  idler  is  sent  off  on  "  probation." 
The  laughing  good-nature  of  the  writer  is  apparent. 

Air:  "  The  Exile  of  Erin:' 

"  There  came  to  the  door  a  poor  student  of  college, 
The  coat  on  his  shoulders  was  ragged  and  thin ; 
He  sighed  and  he  wept  from  the  exquisite  knowledge 
That  the  final  so  soon  was  about  to  begin  : 
But  a  figure  attracted  the  glance  of  his  eye, 
As  it  rushed  with  a  horn  from  an  edifice  nigh, 
Where  oft  in  the  moments  of  hours  gone  by, 
He  had  sung  the  bold  anthem  of  Dinner  Hurrah. 

"  '  Oh  sad  is  my  fate,'  said  the  heart-broken  fellow, 
•  The  Juniors,  Sophs.,  Freshmen  may  walk,  run,  or  sleep, 

But  I,'  he  exclaimed,  with  a  soul-touching  bellow, 
'  To  my  Euclid,  my  room,  and  Cavallo  must  keep. 

Where  is  my  Euclid,  bought  new  the  last  session  ? 

Jemmy  and  Joe,  for  the  dear  creature  call  I 

Wnere  is  Cavallo,  my  dearest  possession  ? 

Ah  no !  for  Longinus  is  dearer  than  all. 

"  'But  hunger  [at  last]  these  sad  fears  moderating, 
One  darling  wish  from  my  bosom  would  draw : 
Jemmy,  Oh  Jemmy,  do  blow  without  waiting ; 
Comfort  of  nature,  dear  dinner  Hurrah ! 
Stumping  or  rowling,  first  grade  or  probation, 
Thy  memory  shall  hold  in  my  heart  the  first  station, 


iEx.15.]  JEMMY    MCCARRIER.  13 

be  uninteresting  at  some  future  day  to  recall  to  mind  my  ser- 
vant Jemmy  McCarrier.  He  has  been  for  many  years  head 
servant  in  the  College,  and  has  fulfilled  his  duties  with  a  zeal 
and  fidelity  which  are  seldom  witnessed.  His  greatest  delight 
is  to  serve ;  no  office  is  too  menial  or  too  laborious  for  him  ; 
he  insists  on  doing  favours,  and  with  the  true  Irish  spirit  is 
offended  if  you  decline  to  receive  them.  It  is  amusing  to  see 
him  pacing  about  the  College  on  a  dog-trot,  which  his  contin- 
ual errands,  for  many  years  performed  always  in  haste,  have 
made  a  habit  characteristic  of  him.  He  seems  always  to  be  in 
the  greatest  possible  hurry,  and  yet  is  punctual  to  the  moment, 
and  most  minute  in  his  business.  His  affection  for  friends  and 
his  gratitude  to  benefactors  are  fervent,  and  expressed  with  all 
the  native  eloquence  of  an  Irishman.  Rage  too  burns  in  him 
with  sudden  impetuosity,  that  while  it  lasts  is  furious,  but 
soon  dies  away.  If  I  wished  a  friend  who  would  flinch  from 
no  danger  and  draw  back  from  no  sacrifices  or  privations  for 
my  sake,  I  would  lay  my  hand  on  Jemmy."  * 

Mr.  Alexander,  the  subject  of  this  biography,  was  matricu- 
lated as  a  student  of  the  College  of  New  Jersey,  and  entered 


And  never,  I  vow,  till  the  examination, 

Will  I  cease  the  hold  anthem  of  Dinner  Hurrah  I ' " 

The  four  last  lines  of  the  first  stanza  seem  to  be  erased,  but  are  obviously 
requisite  to  finish  both  the  sense  and  the  melody.  What  adds  to  the  fun  is  that 
the  fare  at  the  refectory  in  those  days  was  plain  and  bad  enough  for  an  an- 
chorite. 

*  The  father  of  the  McCarryhers  came  over  with  three  sons  from  "the  ould 
counthry,"  and  is  remembered  by  a  Princetonian  of  the  former  days  as  a  shriv- 
elled up  old  little  Irishman,  who  lived  at  different  times  in  two  miserable  houses 
in  the  environs  of  the  college.  When  the  parent  died,  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  thus  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on 
the  intelligence  and  feelings  of  the  son,  who  was  taught  in  this  way  to  look  up 
to  him  with  unmeasured  regard  and  reverence.  Before  the  Seminary  building 
was  put  up  and  the  oratory  used,  and  of  course  long  before  the  erection  of  the 
Seminary  chapel,  the  families  of  the  theological  professors  used  to  worship  in 
the  old  college  chapel,  and  my  informant  vividly  remembers  how  every  Sunday 
morning,  in  cold  weather,  McOarryher  fite  used  to  place  a  CQyered  pan  of  hot 
coals  at  Mrs.  Alexander's,  feet  as  she  sat  in  chapel. 

4 


74  MR.    ALEXANDER    IN    COLLEGE.  [1824. 

one  of  its  advanced  classes,  at  an  age  when  the  majority  of 
hoys  are  still  at  school.  He  was  only  fifteen.  He  might  easily 
have  entered  the  Sophomore  at  fourteen,  or  the  Freshman  at 
thirteen,  or  even  twelve,  had  he  heen  so  disposed,  or  had  his 
parents  thought  it  wise.  He  was  judiciously  kept  back,  not 
eagerly  pushed  forward.  ISTo  one  ever  had  more  prudent 
counsellors.  He  connected  himself  with  the  Junior  class  in 
the  autumn  of  the  year  1824,  and  at  once  took  his  stand  among 
the  first  scholars  of  his  class.  This  position  he  maintained 
during  the  whole  college  course.  Nothing  is  known  positively 
as  to  his  examination  on  entrance,  hut  it  may  he  safely  in- 
ferred that  it  was  entirely  satisfactory.  His  scholarship  was 
never  known,  either  before  or  afterwards,  to  fail  to  come  up 
to  the  most  stringent  tests  which  could  be  applied  to  it.  The 
boys  at  the  academy  thought  he  knew  as  much  Greek  as  Mr. 
Baird,  and  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  be  entangled 
amidst  the  intricacies  of  mathematics;  and  some  of  his  asso- 
ciates of  the  college  fancied  that  he  was  superior  on  the 
score  of  his  attainments  to  most  of  his  instructors  of  the  col- 
lege faculty.  This  was  not  only  the  enthusiastic  estimate  of 
youth,  but  the  deliberate  and  mature  judgment  of  riper  years. 
But  whatever  may  be  the  impartial  decision  upon  this  point, 
it  is  certain  that  he  had  no  superior  among  his  fellow-students 
in  the  branches  embraced  in  the  usual  curriculum ;  and  in  the 
various  branches  of  learning  outside  of  that  curriculum,  it  was 
cheerfully  conceded  that  he  distanced  the  others  so  far,  as  to 
put  all  ideas  of  competition  out  of  the  question.  But  no  one 
regretted  this  state  of  things.  He  bore  his  honours  meekly, 
and  was  universally  regarded  as  the  prodigy  of  Nassau  Hall. 
The  men  were  proud  of  him.  They  regarded  him  as  one  of 
the  bright  ornaments  of  the  institution.  His  standing  as  a 
scholar  was  equal  and  uniform,  being  the  same  at  the  end  of 
his  final  term  as  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  his  course.  There 
was  nothing  in  his  progress  through  college  to  arrest  at- 
tention, except  his  assiduity,  his  punctuality,  his  accurate  and 
eminent  scholarship,  and  his  scrupulous  fidelity  in  the  per- 
formance of  every  duty. 


Mr.  16.] 


HIS    SPEECHES.  15 


In  the  autumn  of  1825  he  was  one  of  the  four  selected  by 
the  American  "Whig  Society  to  represent  that  society  on  the 
night  before  Commencement,  in  its  annual  oratorical  contest 
with  its  Cliosophic  rival.  His  subject  on  this  occasion  was 
"  Jfonachism"  and  it  was  treated  in  such  a  manner  as  to  draw 
many  discerning  eyes  upon  the  young  orator.*  The  speech 
attracted  marked  notice  on  account  of  its  style,  and  the  evi- 
dence that  it  gave  of  mental  power  and  mature  culture. 

During  the  ensuing  winter  he  appeared  again  before  a 
public  audience,  at  the  performance  of  one  of  the  divisions  of 
the  Senior  class ;  the  class  being  distributed  by  lot  into  four 
"  divisions,"  as  they  were  called,  which  appeared  successively, 
at  intervals  of  a  few  weeks,  during  the  winter.  His  subject 
this  time  was  "  the  Fire  Worshippers"  a  theme  which  gave 
full  scope  for  the  exercise  of  his  rich  and  exuberant  imagina- 
tion, and  the  gorgeous  drapery  in  which  he  clothed  his  ideas 
on  this  occasion,  was  a  topic  of  general  remark,  and  was  much 
admired. 

At  the  summer  exhibition  of  the  Senior  class  he  again  ap- 
peared before  the  public,  and  again  made  the  pillars  of  the  old 
chapel  shake  with  applause.  His  attention,  as  we  know,  had 
Ion  2:  before  this  been  directed  to  the  Ian  senates,  literature,  and 
history  of  the  East,  and  he  now  looked  once  more  in  that 
quarter  for  a  theme  for  his  discourse.  The  thing  he  seemed 
to  have  in  view  was  a  defence  or  eulogy  of  the  Moham- 
medan race.  He  spoke  (says  the  brother  from  whom  I  have 
derived  these  particulars)  in  glowing  terms  of  "that  race 
which  in  former  days  had  passed  the  Pillars  of  Hercules  in 
the  face  of  the  Spanish  chivalry,  had  built  the  mosque  of 
Cordova,f  the  palace  at  Seville,  and  beautified  and  adorned 
Castile  and  Aragon  with  those  delicious  gardens  and  foun- 
tains which   made  Spain  the   paradise  of  the  world."     He 

*  Another  of  his  college  efforts  was  on  "  Russia,"  and  some  of  its  brilliant 
sentences  are  still  in  preservation. 

f  "  the  regal  seat 

Of  Abdaldzis,  ancient  Cordoba," 
"  till  they  saw 


76  AT    COLLEGE.  [1825. 

pictured  with  graphic  power  the  arrival  of  the  day  "  when 
the  magnanimous  Arab  shall  with  his  own  hand  plant  the 
Cross  upon  his  own  mountains ;  when  the  Christian  anthem 
shall  be  echoed  and  reechoed  from  the  opposite  shores  of  the 
Adriatic,  and  the  Christian's  hymn  of  praise  once  more  re- 
sound within  the  dome  of  St.  Sophia." 

The  following  extracts  of  a  letter  from  Thomas  Flournoy, 
Esq.,  of  Bentfield,  Brunswick  County,  Virginia,  give  an  excel- 
lent picture  of  the  young  scholar  at  this  time. 

He  says  Addison  "  was  a  very  remarkable  boy,  as  he  was 
universally  conceded  to  be  a  most  remarkable  man.  The  im- 
pression with  most  of  his  compeers  doubtless  was,  that  he  was 
naturally  unsociable  and  taciturn.  Such  I  consider  a  misap- 
prehension. We  were  classmates;  he  was  my  junior  by,  I  sup- 
pose, four  or  five  years.  I  always  found  him  very  accessible. 
He  enjoyed  a  good  joke  and  laugh,  within  reasonable  bounds. 
He  was  a  purely  modest  youth  ;  but  his  vast  resources,  even 
at  the  tender  age  I  knew  him,  precluded  every  thing  like 
diffidence,  as  I  understand  the  purport  of  that  word." 
Pie  used  frequently  to  meet  with  him  on  his  longest  walks 
from  his  father's  house  to  the  recitation  rooms  in  College. 
"He  was  always  pleasant  and  communicative,  and  always  kind 
and  polite.  I  have  seen  him  very  much  bored  by  his  breth- 
ren of  the  Whig  Society,  in  their  zeal  for  the  first  distinction, 
by  urging  him  to  give  more  undivided  attention  to  college 
studies.  I  will  not  say  he  never  thought  about  college  hon- 
ours ;  but  I  am  certain  he  never  expressed  or  manifested  any 
concern  on  the  subject."  If  he  put  forth  any  effort  in  that 
direction,  Mr.  Flournoy  verily  believes  it  was  wholly  to  gratify 
the  ambition  of  the  Whigs.  "  I  believe  he  could  have  gradu- 
ated with  distinction  the  day  he  was  matriculated.     It  was 

The  temples  and  the  towers  of  Cordoba 
Shining  majestic  in  the  light  of  eve." 

JSouUiey,  Roderick,  Book  V. 

"  And  strangers  were  received  by  thee 
Of  Cordova  the  chivalry." 

Byron. 


,Et.16.]  HABITS    AND    APPEARANCE.  11 

quite  farcical  for  him  to  be  reciting  to  professors  whom  he 
could  have  taught.  I  suppose  it  was  altogether  a  formal  re- 
quisition that  influenced  him  in  regarding  a  college  curricu- 
lum as  imperative."  The  writer  was  much  taken  with  his 
friend's  drollery  and  good-humour,  as  evinced  in  his  college 
exercises.  "He  always  manifested  genuine  wit,  humour,  and 
good  feelings,  in  his  pointed  criticisms  on  compositions  and 
declamations  and  debates.  Pie  never  evinced  selfishness, 
vain-glorying,  or  the  least  pride  of  superiority  over  his  fel- 
lows, though  acknowledged  head,  neck,  and  shoulders  over 
all,  by  all.  I  don't  believe  he  had  an  enemy  on  the  earth. 
His  high  attainments  for  one  so  young  and  unpresuming, 
commanded  the  admiration  of  all  without  exciting  the  envy 
or  jealousy  of  any." 

His  general  appearance,  Mr.  Flournoy  says,  was  sedate 
and  sober-minded ;  but  when  in  conversation,  animated  and 
sprightly.  "  I  considered  him  blessed  with  a  cheerful  and 
happy  temperament."  His  looks  were  prepossessing.  "He 
was  very  handsome,  rather  under  the  medium  height,  but 
stoutly  formed,  and  with  proper  exercise  would  have  been 
very  muscular.  He  had  a  fair,  ruddy,  almost  transparent 
complexion.  His  dress  was  of  the  most  tasteful  description, 
exciting  no  attention  whatever.  I  looked  upon  him  as  one  of 
the  cleanest  and  purest  persons  I  have  ever  known.  His 
general  walk  and  deportment  was  that  of  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, though  I  am  unable  to  say  whether  he  was  a  professor." 
The  first  trip  he  ever  made  from  home,  Mr.  Flournoy  thinks, 
was  with  his  father  to  New  York  City.  "  I  heard  Dr.  Alex- 
ander say,  laughingly,  he  never  saw  Addison  but  at  meal- 
times and  at  night ;  and  supposed  '  he  was  on  the  pad  '  all  the 
time,  looking  after  the  lions  of  the  city ;  but  he  ascertained 
the  extent  of  his  peregrinations  was  from  the  hotel  to  a  large 
book-establishment,  where  he  regaled  himself  during  the  days 
they  were  in  the  city."  He  never  knew  one  so  young  take  so 
little  bodily  exercise  and  keep  so  perfectly  healthy ;  for  he 
never  heard  of  his  being  sick. 

The   youthful  intercourse   between   the   two  friends   can 


78  QUICKNESS    OF    PARTS.  [1825. 

scarcely  be  said  to  Lave  been  renewed.  Mr.  Flournoy  re- 
turned to  Virginia  and  lost  sigrht  of  Addison.  "  I  never  had 
the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  him  but  once  after  our  boyhood 
days.  I  heard  him  preach  in  Dr.  Boardman's  church  in  '48, 
and  then  had  only  a  brief  interview  in  the  church."  It 
must  have  been  on  this  occasion  (as  he  tells  me  himself) 
that  Mr.  Flournoy  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  going 
up  into  the  pulpit  and  shaking  him  by  the  hand.*  He  adds, 
in  closing,  "  You  will  doubtless  be  surprised  that  I  am  able 
to  furnish  so  few  striking;  incidents  in  relation  to  Dr.  Alex- 
ander ;  but  his  was  a  quiet,  gentle,  and  unobtrusive  course  to 
eminence." 

The  account  given  in  this  letter  of  Mr.  Flournoy  is  a  true 
sequel  to  the  statements  of  Mr.  King.  It  is  evidently  the 
same  person  that  these  two  gentlemen  describe;  showing 
himself  more  completely  and  unreservedly,  however,  to  the 
one  with  whom  he  was  more  familiarly  associated  in  the  care- 
less freedom  of  a  village  school,  and  with  whom  he  was  more 
nearly  connected  in  point  of  age,  than  with  the  other,  who 
was  also  several  years  his  senior,  and  who  was  his  fellow  only 
in  his  collegiate  studies.  We  may  also,  perhaps,  discover 
some  signs  of  growth  in  character,  manners,  etc.,  since  the 
playful  satirist  excited  the  mirth  and  aroused  the  admiration 
of  Mr.  Baird's  academy  by  his  scintillations  of  fancy,  and 
wild  bursts  of  fun  at  the  expense  of  every  body  and  every 
thing.  He  was  now,  according  to  all  accounts,  a  short,  stout, 
striking-looking,  ros}r-faced,  marvellous-minded  youth  of  seven- 
teen, with  a  remarkable  head,  that  was  stored  with  unknown 
treasures  of  strange  learning,  and  possessing  a  quickness  and 
versatility  of  parts  that  could  not  easily  be  matched.  If  he 
was  reserved  towards  strangers,  he  on  some  points  opened 
his  heart  to  his  nearest  friends  with  the  confidence  and  sim- 
plicity of  a  little  child.  To  them,  and  to  his  juniors  in  years, 
he  was  almost  uniformly  gracious  and  affable,  if  not  demon- 

*  He  remembered  his  friend  "  Tom  Flournoy's  "  shake  of  the  hand,  and 
referred  to  it  when  in  Europe  in  1833,  in  connection  with  what  he  says  of  the 
proverbial  coldness  of  English  manners. 


JSt.16.]  MANY-SIDED    CHARACTER.  79 

stratively  affectionate  :  nay,  there  were  times  when  he  abound- 
ed in  exuberant  and  effervescent  hilarity  and  pleasant  mis- 
chief. 

A  gentleman  now  residing  in  Charlotte,  Virginia,  who 
visited  Princeton  in  1828,  with  a  letter  to  Dr.  Alexander, 
tells  me  that  Addison,  who  was  some  years  older  than  himself, 
at  once  became  his  chaperon,  and  with  the  greatest  kindness 
showed  him  the  various  objects  of  interest  connected  with  the 
seminary,  and  among  them  the  fine  prospect  which  is  com- 
manded by  the  cupola.  This  gentleman  represents  him  as 
being  at  that  time  "  the  toildest  boy  he  ever  saw,"  explaining 
himself  to  mean  the  most  talkative,  sprightly,  humorous, 
witty,  gaily  enthusiastic,  and  intrepidly  frolicsome  and  mis- 
chievous. He  says  that  his  comical  guide  fired  his  shots  at 
every  body  and  every  thing,  but  that  the  flame  was  of  the 
most  lambent  character  and  hurt  nothing.  My  informant  adds, 
that  Addison  convulsed  the  little  satellites  by  whom  he  was 
attended,  and  that  he  himself  nearly  died  laughing.  And  yet 
this  was  the  same  person  of  whom  Mr.  Flournoy  truly  says, 
that  "his  general  appearance  was  sedate  and  sober-minded;" 
though  in  conversation  he  considered  him  "  animated  and 
sprightly."  The  truth  is,  the  hoy,  like  the  man,  had  almost  as 
many  sides  to  his  character  and  genius  as  there  were  persons 
to  look  at  them.  He  was  different  to  different  people,  and 
different  on  different  days.  He  was  like  a  kaleidescope  in 
this,  that  you  could  never  touch  him  without  producing  in 
your  mind  a  new  impression  of  his  boundless  variety. 

The  destruction  of  the  papers  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  King 
will  always  be  a  subject  of  regret  to  the  admirers  of  Dr.  Alex- 
ander, and  to  those  who  are  inquisitive  about  the  events  of 
his  early  life.  In  the  absence  of  these  interesting  manuscripts, 
I  give  a  few  extracts  from  a  letter  of  Judge  Napton  to  Wil- 
liam C.  Alexander,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  bearing  upon  the  same 
period : 

"  You  are  right  in  supposing  that  no  one  could  appreciate  the  genius 
and  worth  of  your  brother,  Addison,  more  than  myself,  or  had  better 


80  JUDGE    NAPTON.  [1825. 

opportunities  of  understanding  his  peculiarities  when  we  were  both 
young.  It  would  be  difficult  for  me  to  express  the  great  respect  and 
veneration  I  had  for  your  father — clarum  et  venerabile  nomen — and  tbe 
great  obligations  I  owed  him  for  kindness  to  me  in  boyhood,  and  for 
wholesome  advice  (I  have  his  letter  yet)  which  was  not  thrown  away, 
as  advice  usually  is. 

"As  to  Addison,  I  looked  upon  him  as  one  of  extraordinary  mind, 
and  gifted  with  a  superiority  of  the  imaginative  faculty  which  was 
never  developed,  but  which  might  have  placed  him  among  the  Irvings, 
Coopers,  and  Pauldings  of  his  and  our  day.  "Whether  he  acted  wisely 
in  devoting  himself  to  other  branches  of  literature,  more  congenial  to 
his  profession,  I  cannot  say  ;  but  I  confess  that  I  regretted  he  did  not 
enter  into  a  more  popular  department  of  literature,  where  he  was  cer- 
tain of  success."     *    *    * 

I  am  also  indebted  to  Judge  Xapton  for  the  following  par- 
ticulars. It  will  be  remembered  that  these  reminiscences  and 
criticisms  are  from  the  pen  of  the  man  who  was  one  of  his  best 
friends,  and  without  qualification  almost  his  only  rival  of  those 
days  as  a  student. 

"  Our  acquaintance  began  at  a  very  early  period  of  onr  lives,  and 
ceased  before  either  of  us  could  be  said  to  have  reached  manhood. 
I  can  only  speak  in  general  terms  of  impressions  and  convictions  then 
formed  of  the  peculiar  intellectual  and  moral  traits  exhibited  by  my 
friend.  My  acquaintance  with  Addison  Alexander  commenced,  I  be- 
lieve, on  my  leaving  the  school  at  Lawrenceville,  then  under  charge 
of  the  Rev.  I.  Y.  Brown,  and  joining  the  academy  at  Princeton — a  sort 
of  preparatory  school  then  just  established  by  the  Eev.  Robert  Baird, 
a  gentleman  subsequently  well-known  for  his  labors  in  Europe  and  his 
valuable  sketches  of  them.  Addison  and  I  must  have  been  at  this 
time  about  fourteen  years  old,  and  our  intimacy,  which  then  sprang 
up,  probably  from  some  congeniality  of  tastes  and  studies,  continued 
till  the  close  of  our  college  career,  which  was  when  we  were  each 
eighteen." * 

The  most  prominent  and  striking  characteristic  of  Ad- 
dison Alexander  at  this  period — at  all  events,  the  one  which 
impressed  itself  with  the  greatest  force  on  his  young  com- 

*  Addison,  as  we  have  seen,  was  a  year  or  two  younger. 


iET.16.]  EARLY    TASTE    FOR    LITERATURE.  81 

panion,  was  "  the  extent  and  power  of  his  creative  and 
imaginative  faculties,  which,  combined  as  they  were  with 
good  judgment  and  discriminating  taste,  a  remarkably  re- 
tentive memory,  and  a  facility  of  expression  in  language 
chaste,  smooth,  and  elegant,  fitted  him,  as  I  thought,  for 
ultimate  distinction  as  a  great  writer  in  the  field  of  popular 
literature."  His  peculiar  talent  in  this  line  exhibited  itself  at 
a  very  early  period  of  their  acquaintance,  upon  their  publish- 
ing, or  rather  circulating  in  conjunction,  "  a  sort  of  literary 
hebdomadal  for  the  amusement  of  the  school  and  for  the 
young  people  of  the  town,  to  which  he  Avas  the  principal 
contributor.  For  this  sheet  he  wrote  tales  after  the  manner 
of  the  'Rambler'  and  ' Spectator '  (in  those  daj/s  we  read 
Johnson  and  Addison) ;  poetical  effusions  alter  the  style  of 
Swift,  though  by  no  means  partaking  of  his  uncleanness; 
sketches  of  scenes  and  characters  of  a  humorous  sort ;  with  an 
occasional  dash  of  satire,  in  the  shape  of  advertisements  or 
announcements  of  passing  events,  and  all  kinds  of  puerile 
badinage.  He  had  a  peculiar  fancy  and  talent  for  imitations 
of  the  florid  style  of  Eastern  tales,  and  took  great  delight  in 
perplexing  the  savans  of  the  village  with  imaginary  transla- 
tions from  the  Persian,  Arabic,  Hindostanee,  or  Sanscrit,  etc., 
to  all  of  which  languages  he  was,  of  course,  at  this  time  a 
perfect  stranger.  His  skill  in  the  invention  of  names  for  his 
characters,  appropriate  to  the  country  and  time,  was  remark- 
able, and  reminded  me  of  a  similar  capacity  so  memorably 
displayed  by  the  great  Scotch  novelist." 

He  was,  the  writer  remembers,  fond  of  paradox  :  "  Nothing 
delighted  him  more,  when  his  school  task  was  to  read  an  essay, 
than  to  present  views  and  advocate  opinions  at  variance  with 
those  generally  received,  and  probably  at  variance  with  his 
own.  I  remember  an  essay  of  his,  read  at  the  academy,  set- 
ting forth  the  great  superiority  of  a  monarchical  over  a  repub- 
lican form  of  government — a  position  then  regarded  as  totally 
heterodox."  Neither  then  nor  afterwards,  during  his  ac- 
quaintance with  him,  was  he  fond  of  metaphysical  studies ; 

"  though  before  the  close  of  his  college  career  he  doubtless 
4* 


82  MORAL    HABITS.  [1825. 

was  familiar  with  the  views  of  Locke  and  the  Scotch  meta- 
physicians."    He  often  wrote  at  this  time  for  the  newspapers. 

"  Daring  our  college  life  he  occasionally  contributed  articles  to  the 
political  newspapers,  discussing  with  great  apparent  zeal  the  merits  of 
the  then  Presidential  aspirants — a  subject  however  in  which  he  took 
no  real  interest,  but  in  which  he  entered  the  lists  en  masque  purely  for 
amusement. 

"  Besides  the  regular  routine  of  collegiate  studies,  he  explored  every 
by-path  of  literature,  however  unfrequented,  and  there  were  probably 
very  few  books,  on  any  branch  of  science,  or  in  any  department  of 
learning,  which  he  had  not  looked  into  and  formed  some  estimate  of. 

"  His  facility  in  acquiring  languages,  both  ancient  and  modern,  is 
well  known." 

His  conduct  was  irreproachable. 

"  In  reference  to  his  morals  or  moral  habits  at  this  period,  it  is  im- 
possible to  speak  in  terms  which  could  be  regarded  as  exaggerated  com- 
mendation. He  was,  or  seemed  to  be,  purity  itself;  he  appeared  to 
hold  in  complete  subjection  all  those  passions  and  appetites  which  so 
often  lead  youth  astray.*  His  intellectual  faculties  had  the  entire  pre- 
dominance, and  their  cultivation  and  improvement  was  his  sole  care. 
He  neither  used  tobacco  in  any  form,  or  stimulating  drinks  of  any 
kind;  he  never  uttered  an  oath  nor  engaged  in  any  kind  of  games, 
noxious  or  harmless. 

"  On  the  subject  of  religion  I  never  heard  him  speak;  nor  did  he, 
during  my  acquaintance  with  him,  attach  himself  to  any  religious  de- 
nomination. 

"  In  one  respect  his  habits  were  singular,  and  perhaps  not  so  com- 
mendable. I  mean  his  almost  total  isolation — his  aversion  not  only  to 
crowds,  but  to  all  social  intercourse,  except  of  course  with  his  father's 
family  and  a  few,  very  few  friends.  And  this  seemed  the  more  re- 
markable, as  nature  had  given  him  a  robust  constitution  of  body,  a 
rather  large  and  imposing  person  for  his  years,  inclining  even  in  youth 
to  corpulency,  a  most  cheerful,  nay,  quite  hilarious  temperament,  and 
withal  a  considerable  propensity  and  talent  for  satire.  These  natural 
gifts,  with  acquisitions  in  learning  so  much  in  advance  of  his  fellows, 

*  Mr.  Vandyke  Joline  of  Trenton,  formerly  of  Princeton,  another  classmate 
at  Mr.  Baird's  school,  bears  the  same  testimony. 


Mt.  16.]  HIGHLY    GIFTED.  83 

united  with  uncommon  conversational  powers  and  a  keen  appreciation 
of  the  ludicrous,  would  seem  to  have  fitted  him  for  general  society. 
But  Lis  aversion  to  it  was  insuperable,  and,  I  have  understood,  was 
never  in  after  life  greatly  changed. 

"  I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  refer  particularly  to  his  scholarship. 
That  he  possessed  higher  natural  gifts  and  far  greater  attainments  than 
any  of  his  age,  both  at  school  and  college,  was  conceded  by  all  who 
knew  him  ;  and  in  all  branches  of  learning  embraced  in  the  college 
course,  and  in  general  literature  outside  of  it,  among  hundreds  of  stu- 
dents of  varied  talent  and  industry,  he  was  confessedly  primus  inter 
pares.  In  a  word,  nature  and  education  had  fitted  him  for  almost  any 
sphere  of  life  he  might  select.  Had  he  chosen  that  occupied  by  Scott 
and  Irving  at  the  beginning  of  the  century,  and  more  recently  by 
Thackeray  and  Dickens,  I  am  persuaded  he  would  have  delighted  the 
world  by  his  imaginative  creations  and  his  charming,  easy  and  attract- 
ive style.  But  he  selected  a  more  narrow,  laborious,  and  perhaps  use- 
ful path,  of  his  success  in  which  I  am  not  competent  to  speak." 

There  is  much  in  this  letter  to  set  the  mind  to  thinking, 
and  to  shed  light  on  the  inner  history  of  our  wonderful  boy- 
student.  It  will  be  noticed  that  it  is  written  in  a  very  grave 
and  cautious  style,  that  every  word  is  well-weighed,  and  that 
every  influence  that  could  prejudice  the  feelings  of  the  critic 
seems  to  have  been  sedulously  repressed.  It  was  written,  too, 
by  one  of  the  very  few  persons  who  really  know  any  thing 
about  the  boyhood  and  youth  of  Addison  Alexander  from 
actual  experience,  and  by  one  who  was  not  only  then  abreast 
of  the  young  genius  in  his  collegiate  studies,  and  therefore 
capable  of  appreciating  his  unusual  attainments,  but  who  by 
the  natural  bent  of  his  tastes,  and  by  the  cast  given  his  reflec- 
tions by  his  professional  education  and  habits,  and  experience 
on  the  bench,  was  singularly  well  fitted  to  pronounce  an  intel- 
ligent and  accurate  opinion  in  the  premises.  The  judgment 
here  expressed  may  therefoi*e  be  regarded  as  almost  judicial. 
And  what  is  that  judgment  ?  That  he  was  by  far  the  most 
highly  and  variously  gifted  of  his  coevals  of  the  school  and 
college,  and  that  his  learning  extended  indefinitely  beyond  the 
usual  boundaries.  It  is  certainly  a  remarkable  statement  of 
Judge  Napton's,  that  "  there  were  probably  very  few  books, 


84  CHARACTER    OF    HIS    MIND.  [1825. 

on  any  branch  of  science,  or  in  any  department  of  learning, 
which  he  had  not  looked  into  and  formed  some  estimate  of." 
Addison's  most  extraordinary  gift,  he  thinks,  was  "  the  extent 
and  power  of  his  creative  and  imaginative  faculties,"  and  he 
almost  regrets  that  his  friend  "  had  not  turned  his  attention 
more  seriously  to  the  department  of  elegant  letters,  and  espe- 
cially of  romantic  fiction."  It  does  not  appear  that  he  thought 
him  particularly  distinguished  at  this  time  for  powers  of  in- 
tellectual analysis.  It  is  somewhat  odd  that  a  friend  and  pupil 
of  Dr.  Alexander,  who  however  knew  him  at  a  much  later 
period,  after  presenting  (in  a  letter  which  will  be  given  in  the 
sequel)  a  masterly  view  of  his  preceptor's  fondness  for,  and 
success  in,  the  analytical  processes  as  contrasted  with  the  syn- 
thetic, leans  to  the  opinion  that  he  did  not  possess  in  any  un- 
common degree  the  faculty  of  construction  ;  in  other  words, 
that  his  mind  was  essentially  and  exclusively  an  analytical, 
one.  These  opposite  statements  must  be  combined  and  recon- 
ciled, before  we  can  obtain  a  true  conception  of  Dr.  Alexan- 
der's real  intellectual  greatness.  One  of  the  most  striking 
peculiarities  of  the  case,  to  those  who  knew  him  long  and  in- 
timately, was  the  regular  and  equal  development  of  all  his 
powers.  He  had  the  same  turn  for  science  and  for  art.  Each 
one  of  the  faculties  of  his  mind  seemed  to  be  what  it  ought  to 
be,  without  reference  to  any  of  the  others.  We  shall  have 
abundant  occasion  to  show  that  he  was  as  remarkable  for 
analysis  when  a  boy  as  when  a  man,  and  as  remarkable  for 
synthesis  when  a  man  as  when  a  boy.  The  exegetical  and 
critical  exercises  of  his  school  days  are  as  much  marked  by 
sagacious  discrimination  and  acute,  analyzing  logic,  as  his 
later  commentaries ;  and  the  sermons  and  poems  which  were 
composed  when  he  was  at  his  meridian  show  full  as  much  of 
"  creative  imagination  "  and  marvellous  constructive  skill,  as 
the  grave  or  more  fantastic  effusions  of  his  prodigal  humour, 
which  put  all  "  the  savans  of  Princeton  "  at  fault  during  the 
time  that  "  the  sun  shone  fair"  on  Dr.  Baird's  academy.  But 
the  surprising  thing  is,  that  his  school-fellows  did  not  more 
generally  or  more  fully  suspect  at  the  time,  not  only  the  ex- 


^Ex.  10.]  EQUALITY    OF    HIS    FACULTIES.  85 

ceeding  brilliancy,  but  the  extreme  versatility  of  his  mental 
powers,  and  the  immense  range  of  his  scholarship.  The  truth 
was,  Addison  kept  his  own  secrets.  On  certain  subjects,  or 
when  for  a  purpose  it  pleased  him  to  be  so,  he  was  as  silent  as 
the  grave.  He  took  few  into  his  confidence  at  all,  and  fewer 
still  into  the  inner  sanctuary  of  his  feelings.  To  a  very  select 
circle  he  revealed  something  of  his  hidden  life,  but  he  always 
kept  back  a  part.  The  half  was  not  told  them.  No  one  of 
his  young  companions  seems  to  have  comprehended  him 
thoroughly,  or  to  have  known  precisely  how  he  employed  his 
leisure  hours.  At  the  very  time  he  was  supposed  by  one  of 
the  most  congenial  spirits  he  had  in  the  academy  to  be  writing 
imitations  of  oriental  tales  and  poems,  he  was  filling  column 
after  column  of  Walsh's  Quarterly  with  elaborate  criticisms 
upon  the  Persian  and  Ai-abic  texts.  Another  *  of  his  school- 
fellows, who  had  also  the  opportunity  of  observing  his  career 
in  after  life,  seems  to  have  been  impressed  just  as  I  am  with 
the  uniform  equality  of  his  faculties,  and  the  rounded  com- 
pleteness of  his  mental  culture.  He  says  his  conviction  was 
that  Addison  could  do  any  intellectual  thing  he  pleased.  I 
may  add  on  my  own  responsibility  that  he  was  emphatically, 
and  beyond  all  men  I  have  ever  known,  so  far  as  regards  the 
character  of  his  mind,  totus  teres  atque  rotundus.  His  genius 
was,  as  regards  its  symmetrical  form  and  finish,  as  smooth  and 
circular  as  a  polished  ivory  sphere.  He  could  turn  his  mind 
to  any  thing,  from  a  comic  almanac  or  a  child's  dialogue,  to 
bursts  of  eloquence  in  the  pulpit,  or  a  gush  of  impassioned 
and  imaginative  song,  or  to  a  prodigious  refutation,  or  rather 
extermination,  of  the  neological  interpreters  of  Germany,  f 

The  writer  from  whom  I  have  been  chiefly  quoting  looks 
back  with  lively  pleasure  on  the  newspaper  venture  in  which 
he  and  Addison  were  interested,  and  towards  which,  he  says, 
Addison  was  the  principal  contributor.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  whatever  that  the  latter  loved  to  change  his  hand,  write 

*  David  Comfort,  Esq. 

\  I  feel  that  I  am  justified  in  the  use  of  this  language,  by  the  example  of 
others  in  this  volume. 


86  COLLEGE    CLUB.  [1825. 

in  different  styles,  occupy  unwonted  positions,  and  make  in- 
roads upon  untrodden  ground,  and  thus  mystify  the  citizens 
of  Princeton  and  even  his  most  intimate  acquaintances.  This 
was  perhaps  the  diversion  in  which,  of  all  others,  he  most 
delighted.  The  friend  from  whose  letter  I  have  been  making 
such  large  extracts,  adds,  in  a  postscript, 

"  These  labours,  or  rather  amusements  of  his  continued  long  after 
the  cessation  of  our  puerile  '  weekly'  at  the  Academy,  and  were  sub- 
sequently, during  the  entire  period  of  our  acquaintance,  published  from 
time  to  time  in  a  newspaper  in  Trenton,  called  the  Emporium.  Some 
of  them  may  yet  be  extant."* 

I  now  cite  as  a  witness  of  this  time  Mr.  Charles  Campbell, 
the  author  of  the  History  of  Virginia,  who,  though  not  a  class- 
mate, was  a  contemporary  and  friend.  He  says,  among  other 
things,  that 

"  Addison  Alexander  entered  the  College  of  New  Jersey  during  the 
time  when  I  was  there,  about  1824  or  "5.  I  occasionally  met  with  him 
in  the  College,  and  remember  his  communicating  to  me  a  scheme  which 
he  proposed,  of  forming  a  debating  society  among  the  students.  Why 
he  should  propose  this,  when  there  were  two  well-established  literary 
societies  connected  with  the  College,  I  do  not  remember.  I  attended  a 
preliminary  meeting,  and  I  believe  the  scheme  was  carried  into  effect, 
and  that  Addison  was  the  secretary  of  the  society  and  kept  a  record  of 
the  proceedings." 

All  such  clubs  and  meetings,  when  well  managed,  gave 
him  pleasure.  He  cared  little  for  oral  debate  himself,  but 
liked  to  listen  and  take  notes.  As  a  young  man  at  least,  he 
thirsted  for  this  sort  of  social  companionship,  and  his  reputed 
mauvaise  honte  did  not  embarrass  him  or  others  on  the  occa- 
sions of  these  literary  hobnobbiugs.  He  was  as  free,  gay,  and 
cheerful  as  he  was  learned. 

Dr.  John  Maclean,  so  long  the  honoured  president  of  the 
college,  and  one  of  its  instructors  when  Addison  was  the  or- 
nament of  the  classes,  writes  that  he  has  a  distinct  recollection 

*  They  are  not,  or  at  least  are  not  recognizable. 


^Et.  17.]  G.   W.    BOLLING.  87 

of  him  from  his  early  childhood.  "  While  yet  a  child,"  as  he 
remembers,  he  gave  promise  of  becoming  an  eminently  learned 
man.  At  school  and  college  he  was  distinguished  for  his  de- 
votion to  study  and  his  attainments  in  learning  ;  not  that  he 
Avas  equally  fond  of  all  the  different  branches  to  which  his 
attention  was  directed  by  his  several  teachers,  or  that  he  was 
equally  proficient  in  them.  From  the  first  he  manifested  a 
peculiar  fondness  for  the  study  of  languages,  and  an  uncommon 
aptness  in  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  them.  He  also 
devoted  himself  to  the  use  of  his  pen,  on  a  great  variety  of 
subjects,  both  mirthful  and  serious ;  and  his  style  was  as 
vai'ied  as  the  matters  concerning;  which  he  wrote.  The  train- 
ing  which  he  may  be  said  to  have  given  himself  in  these 
departments  of  learning,  was  adapted,  in  connection  with  his 
great  intellectual  vigour,  to  make  him  the  eminent  scholar  and 
writer  which  he  became. 

A  gentleman  of  Petersburg,  Va.,*  has  favoured  me  with 
the  following  valuable  and  interesting  statements : 

"  The  Rev.  Joseph  Addison  Alexander  was  a  classmate  of  mine  at 
Princeton  for  certainly  two  years,  perhaps  also  one  session  of  another 
year  ;  then  he  was  very  young,  not  more  than  nineteen  to  twenty-one 
years  old ;  but  even  at  that  age,  as  when  a  man,  he  was  distinguished 
for  dignity,  circumspection,  and  sterling  integrity — polite,  but  very 
bashful,  social  with  familiar  friends,  but  averse  to  mingling  in  society 
generally.  In  this  disposition  he  was  peculiar."  Mr.  Alexander  did 
not  commonly  visit  the  rooms  of  the  students,  but  Mr.  Boiling's  was 
an  exception.  "He  was  a  frequent  visitor  at  my  room,  and  would 
make  himself  always  agreeable  and  instructive,  provided  you  let  him 
alone  and  did  not  show  him  attention  by  introducing  him  to  others,  and 
avoided  all  formalities  towards  him.  He  graduated  with  distinguished 
honour.  He  was  even  at  that  early  day  a  ripe  scholar,  and  in  after  life 
in  a  most  remarkable  manner  verified  the  correctness  of  the  impress 
lie  then  gave  of  his  great  talents  and  scholarship.  I  often  desired  to 
hear  him  preach,  but  such  good  fortune  was  not  allowed  me,  nor  had  I, 
since  we  parted  at  the  Commencement  when  we  graduated,  the  oppor- 
tunity to  see  and  associate  with  one  for  whom  I  entertained  such  high 
regard  as  a  friend  and  admiration  as  a  great  and  good  man.     For  the 

*  G.  W.  Boiling,  Esq. 


8R  VALEDICTORY.  [1826. 

want  of  associating  with  him  in  after  years,  I  am  only  able  to  furnish 
you  this  meagre  statement  of  his  distinguished  virtues.  But  meagre  as 
it  is,  I  regard  it  a  privilege  to  have  an  opportunity  to  bear  ray  testi- 
mony to  his  worth." 

His  last  public  appearance  as  a  student  was  on  Commence- 
ment day,  1826,  when  he  proceeded  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

At  that  day  the  first  honour  was  usually  divided  among 
several.  Mr.  Alexander  shared  it  with  the  Hon.  Peter  McCall, 
who  has  Ion  y  been  a  distinguished  lawyer  of  Philadelphia,  and 
the  Hon.  Wiiliam  B.  Napton,  the  late  Chief-Justice  of  Missouri. 
The  valedictory  was  then  given  to  the  best  speaker  taking  the 
first  honour,  but  in  this  case  the  faculty  found  themselves  un- 
able to  decide  between  Alexander  and  McCall,  and  it  had  to 
be  determined  by  lot.  Mr.  McCall  pronounced  the  Latin 
salutatory,  Mr.  Napton  the  English;  the  valedictory  oration 
falling  to  the  lot  of  Mr.  Alexander.  His  subject,  in  this  his 
last  college  effort,  was,  "  The  Pains  and  Pleasures  of  a  College 
Life." 

The  oration  was  finished  in  style,  and  the  addresses  to  the 
trustees,  the  president,  the  faculty,  and  his  classmates  were 
touching  and  impressive. 

Many  distinguished  men  attending  the  Commencement 
were  greatly  attracted  by  this  performance,  and  the  late  Hon. 
Richard  Stockton  (who  was  one  of  the  trustees)  at  the  close 
predicted  with  emphasis  the  future  eminence  of  the  youthful 
graduate,  and  not  content  with  this,  stepped  out  and  congratu- 
lated his  father  Dr.  Alexander  on  the  stage.  A  near  relative 
of  the  young  man  wTho  received  such  marks  of  consideration, 
remembers  being  put  up  on  the  seat  at  church,  when  but  a 
little  child,  to  get  a  sight  of  him  when  he  was  speaking  ;  but 
thinks  this  must  have  been  his  Junior  speech,  as  the  impres- 
sion i-emains  strong  on  the  mind  of  my  informant  that  it  was 
at  night. 

Mr.  Alexander  took  his  diploma  at  Princeton  on  the  last 
Wednesday  of  September,  1826  ;  which  would  put  him  in  his 
eighteenth  year.  His  seventeenth  birthday  occurred  in  April, 
when  he  was  a  Senior  looking  forward  to  graduation  the  ensu- 


Mr.U.1  CLERK   OF    COMMON    COUNCIL.  89 

ing  autumn.  It  would  be  pleasant  to  know  precisely  what 
were  his  feelings  in  that  prospect,  but  this  is  more  than  can 
be  determined.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  they  seem  to  have 
been  comfortable  and  buoyant,  though  as  yet  he  had  no  set- 
tled plans  for  life. 

One  of  his  brothers  who  had  been  graduated  two  years 
before,  then  a  student  of  law,  was  at  this  time  the  clerk 
of  the  borough  of  Princeton.  In  the  month  of  October,  1826, 
being  the  month  succeeding  Commencement,  that  brother 
left  for  Virginia,  and  the  Common  Council  of  the  borough 
appointed  the  renowned  young  scholar  in  his  place.  This 
position  he  held  for  some  time,  and  discharged  its  duties,  so 
far  as  I  am  aware,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  body  appointing 
him. 

About  the  same  time,  also,  his  eldest  brother*  removed 
permanently  to  Virginia,  to  take  charge  of  the  village 
church  at  Charlotte  Court  House,  of  which  he  became  the 
first  settled  pastor.  The  father  of  the  young  pastor  just  re- 
ferred to,  had  preached  to  another  generation  at  the  same 
spot  many  years  before,  and  the  memory  of  Drs.  Archibald 
and  James  Alexander  is  still  as  ointment  poured  forth  over 
that  whole  region. 

The  following  lively  epistle  to  his  brother  James  will  be 
found  to  be  copious,  playful,  affectionate,  and  learned,  and  to 
mirror  the  writer's  habits  of  life  at  this  time.  It  is  chiefly  in- 
teresting, however,  as  being  the  first  of  his  letters  that  is  now 
extant.  It  implies  a  certain  degree  of  knowledge  of  Latin, 
Greek,  Italian,  Arabic,  and  Persian,  but  might  not  indicate 
that  the  writer  was  a  prodigy. 

The  queer  names  of  his  fowls  arose  from  his  strange  way 
of  determining  upon  thein.  He  would  open  a  book  at  ran- 
dom, and  the  first  word  that  struck  his  eye  was  to  be  the 
nomen,  and  the  first  on  the  next  opening  of  the  book,  the 
cognomen. 

*  A  full  account  of  these  matters  will  be  found  in  the  Memoir  of  Dr.  A. 
Alexander,  and  in  the  Forty- Years'  Familiar  Letters. 


90  FIRST    LETTER.  [1826. 

Princeton,  New  Jersey,  TJ.  S.  of  N.  Am.,  ) 
Friday,  21st  of  April,  1826.  f 

CnAP.ISSIME  VoADELI, 

I  had  intended  to  indite  you  an  epistle  in  classical  and  Ciceronian 
Latin,  but  the  thought  that  you  have  probably  dropt  the  acquaintance 
of  Greek  and  Roman  sages,  since  your  departure  from  this  celebrated 
seat  of  the  Muses,  has  induced  me  to  "effere  vernacule" — as  we  used 
to  say  in  the  garret  when  you  were  a  schoolmaster.  As  letter-writing 
is  a  species  of  composition  in  which  I  have  had  little  practice,  I  find 
it  necessary  in  digesting  my  epistles  to  adopt  the  same  rules  by  which 
I  am  guided  in  writing  an  essay  for  the  ears  of  our  illustrious  President, 
whose  logical  exactness  of  thought  and  nicety  of  expression  render  it 
nessy  in  stringing  our  pairls  to  be  very  methodical.  I  shall  therefore 
consider  my  subject  under  three  heads,  1.  the  news ;  2.  replies  to 
your  inquiries;  3.  original  messages  and  remarks,  which  I  am  directed 
to  communicate  by  my  constituents  (for  in  writing  this  letter,  I  stand 
in  a  federal  capacity,  being  the  representative  of  the  household). 
First,  then,  the  news, — which  is  very  scanty — nor  should  you  lament 
this  if  you  are  endued  with  reason,  for  u/3ouXeij-,  une  /not,  nepuuv, 
nvvBaveadai  Xfyerot  ti  Kaivov ; "  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  any  man 
who  lias  taken  the  oaths  of  allegiance  in  Henrico  County,  Virginia, 
and  received  the  power  of  marrying  and  giving  in  marriage  through- 
out the  Old  Dominion,  can  care  for  intelligence  from  the  Jerseys.  Be 
that  as  it  may,  I  shall  proceed  to  communicate  the  facts  with  which  I 
have  been  supplied.  Imprimis — we  are  all  well  (you  know  with  what 
limitations  to  understand  this  statement).  Item,  Mr.  "Woodhull  is  not 
very  well,  but  on  the  contrary,  is  very  ill,  and  it  is  expected  that  ho 
will  "go  into  a  consumption."  Item,  Dr.  Miller  has  been  confined  to 
his  bed  for  some  time.  Item,  a  Cherokee  Indian,  by  the  name  of  Chew, 
was  buried  here  to-day — the  obsequies  being  conducted  by  Dr.  A. 
Item,  Green  was  here  last  night  and  went  off  at  five  o'clock  this  morn- 
ing. Item,  Mrs.  Field  has  bought  Mr.  Baird's  house  and  will  enter  it 
next  Spring.  Item,  Dr.  Carnahan  is  going  to  Washington.  Item, 
Mr.  Patton  is  going  to  deliver  expository  lectures  on  the  "'Y.tttci 
cm  6^3ay"  of  iEschylus.  Item,  Mr.  David  Minge,  of  emancipating 
celebrity,  has  pitched  his  tent  among  us,  and  intends  to  pursue  his 
studies  under  the  care  of  Luther  Ilalsey,  Jr.  Item,  Hatching  Harpoon 
has  hatched  six  chickens — to  wit — Ruby  Cobweb,  John  Peaseblossom, 
Cheerfulness  Plenty,  Egg  Sacrifice,  Corpulent  Ostrich,  and  Grapevine 
Moth.  Two  of  these  are  dead,  the  rest  are  in  very  good  health.  The 
Chicken  College  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.     Pompey  Jack  has  re- 


Mr.  17.]  LETTERS    RECEIVED.  91 

signed  the  presidency,  and  is  engaged  in  writing  a  work  with  the  fol- 
lowing title— "  L-toria  del  collegio  dei  Follastri,  nella  Univcrsita  di 
Grattocane  pollastr'anitra,  del  anno  1820,  al  anno  presente.  Per  Pom- 
peio  Giacco,  Dottore  di  Penne  e  di  mustacchi  e  ultimo  Presidente  del 
collegio."  *  Item,  Capt.  Penshaw  is  appointed  Commander  of  the 
Navy  Yard  in  Philadelphia,  vice  Biddle. 

II.  In  your  letter  by  J.  F.  Oaruthers,  you  earnestly  desire  to  be  in- 
formed what  letters  have  been  received  from  you — I  therefore  subjoin 
as  perfect  a  list  as  I  could  obtain  : 

No.  1.  To  Mrs.  Janetta  Alexander,  dated  Baltimore,  Nov.  3,  1825. 

2.  "  Miss  Ann  II.  Waddell,  "  Petersburg,  Dec.  18,  " 

3.  "  Mrs.  Janetta  Alexander,  "  Petersburg,  Jan.  5,  1826. 

4.  "     do.      do.  do.  "  do.        Jan.  26,     " 

5.  "  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Alexander,         "  do.        Feb.  13,   " 

6.  "  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  "  do.         March  3,  " 

7.  "  Miss  Ann  H.  Waddell,  "  Richmond,  March  8,    " 

8.  "  Mrs.  Janetta  Alexander,  "  Petersburg,  March  16,  " 

9.  "  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Alexander,  "  Richmond,  April  1,      " 
Add  to  these  a  letter  to  Wm.  from  Washington — another  by  Mr.  Nisbet,  a 

third  by  Jno.  F.  Caruthers,  and  a  fourth  received  to-day,  and  I  believe  yon 
have  the  whole  of  your  epistles  before  you.  I  can  hardly  imagine  your  motive 
for  requesting  such  information  as  this. 

III.  Mrs.  Alexander  asks  you  whether  the  accounts  of  Virginia, 
once  given  you  by  herself  and  Miss  W.,  appear  to  you  now  as  the  off- 
spring of  wild  enthusiasm. 

(Then  follows  a  line  in  Arabic  character.) 

Salamu  alaiknm  miu  ali  wa  ahli. 
i.  e.,  You  are  saluted  by  kith  and  kin. 

Scritto  per  il  tuo  fratello, 

J.  Addison  Alexandek. 

During  the  summer  of  1826  Addison,  it  seems,  took  a  trip 
to  the  sea-shore  at  Long  Branch,  and  had  his  first  view  of  the 

*  "  History  of  the  Chicken  College,  in  the  Cat-Dog-Chickcn-Duck  Univer- 
sity, in  the  year  1820,  the  present  year.  By  Pompey  Jack,  Professor  of 
Feathers  and  Whiskers,  and  late  President  of  the  College." 


92  VISITS   LONG   BRANCH.  [1326. 

ocean.  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  drove  the  Jersey  wagon  in 
which  were  Airs.  Campbell,  Airs.  Alexander,  Addison,  Air. 
(now  Doctor)  Alfred  Leyburn  of  Lexington,  and  perhaps  Miss 
Ann  Eliza  Caruthers  (afterwards  Mrs.  Leyburn),  and  Mr. 
Charles  Campbell  of  Petersburg,  and  one  or  two  others.  The 
last  named  is  the  raconteur. 

"My  mother  and  myself  once  accompanied  Dr.  Alexander  with  Ids 
wife  and  daughter  and  some  of  his  sons,  including  Addison,  to  Long 
Branch,  the  watering-place  on  the  Jersey  coast.  Dr.  Alfred  Leyburn 
was  also  in  company  and  I  believe  Ann  Eliza  Caruthers,  whom  he 
afterwards  married.  The  greater  part  of  these  rode  in  a  Jersey  wagon, 
Dr.'  Alexander  driving.  Addison  sat  in  the  seat  before  my  mother. 
For  some  time  he  Avas  engaged  in  writing,  and  at  length  his  mother  in- 
quired of  him  what  he  was  writing,  when  he  handed  her  the  manu- 
script, which  she  read  aloud.  It  proved  to  be  a  report  of  what  each 
one  had  said  during  the  ride.  His  mother  once  remarked  to  mine,  that 
she  never  had  seen  Addison  angry  and  that  she  had  one  day  asked  him 
how  lie  managed  to  keep  his  temper  so  quiet?  He  replied,  that  lie 
should  have  gotten  angry  just  like  others,  but  that  he  had  never  met 
with  any  provocation  which  he  thought  it  worth  his  while  to  get 
angry  about.  This  is  something  like  the  reply  of  the  Earl  of  Peter- 
borough, who,  when  asked  how  it  was  that,  in  all  the  dangers  of  a  re- 
cent campaign,  he  had  never  exhibited  any  fear,  answered,  'I  should 
have  been  as  much  frightened  as  any  body,  but  I  never  saw  any  good 
reason  to  apprehend  danger.'  Addison's  sedate  face  denoted  the  equa- 
nimity for  which  he  was  distinguished.  To  borrow  an  expression,  ho 
moved  about  'with  all  the  concentrated  energy  of  a  young  monk.' 

"  My  brother  Alexander,  who  is  younger  than  myself,  was  some 
years  after  I  left  Princeton  with  my  mother  at  Dr.  Alexander's.  Ad- 
dison wrote  his  biography  for  him  in  some  little  volumes  the  pages  of 
which  were  about  the  size  of  those  of  a  thumb-bible.     One  of  Dr. 

's  sons,  it  appeared,  had  poked  a  stick  through  the  fence  and 

hurt  Aleck  in  the  eye.  The  first  chapter  of  the  biography  dilated  upon 
'the  operation  performed  on  his  eye.'  These  little  volumes  were  pre- 
served for  many  years  but  are  now  lost." 

That  ride  may  not  have  made  any  great  impression  on  a 
mind  that  was  perhaps,  meditating  on  the  college  honours  or 
the  fragrance  of  roses  sung  by  Hafiz  and  Sadi ;  but  the  sight 


.fflT.1T.]  LETTER    OF    MRS.    GRAHAM.  93 

of  the  sea  as  it  rolls  in  upon  the  crushed  sands,  and  elevated 
green  fields  and  bare  levels,  of  the  Jersey  coast  was  one  of  the 
things  that,  as  Keats  says,  are  a  joy  forever,  and  was  on  this 
occasion  a  memorable  joy  to  him.  If  he  did  not  himself  write 
the  powerful  description  of  the  mighty  element  which  soon 
after  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  Patriot  while  he  was 
its  editor,  he  undoubtedly  inserted  it  with  approbation  of  its 
sentiments  and  with  the  warmest  recollections  of  the  great 
original. 

A  letter  from  his  father  to  Mrs.  Graham  gives  a  picture  in 
masterly  outlines  of  the  young  graduate  and  valedictorian,  and 
touches  upon  his  rare  attainments  in  general  literature,  his 
reception  of  the  President's  medal  for  best  composition,  his 
promise  as  an  eloquent  speaker,  his  taste  for  law  and  politics, 
his  regularity  and  quietness  of  deportment,  his  reserve,  and  his 
blameless  manners. 

"Addison  has  just  passed  through  his  final  examination  in  college. 
He  stands  at  the  very  head  of  his  class  in  scholarship.  Two  others 
however  were  put  with  him  in  the  first  honour,  as  it  is  called,  one  of 
whom  is  fully  equal  to  him  in  the  studies  of  the  college,  hut  in  general 
knowledge  is  a  child  to  him.  For  without  any  partiality  to  him  be- 
cause he  is  my  son  (to  which  I  believe  I  am  very  little  prone)  he  is 
very  far  superior  to  any  one  of  his  age  I  ever  saw  in  literary  attain- 
ments. The  Senior  class,  to  which  he  belongs,  were  called  upon  a  few 
days  ago  to  decide  by  ballot  to  whom  the  President's  premium  should 
be  given  for  excelling  in  composition,  and  Addison  obtained  the  first 
place  by  a  large  majority.  His  ability  to  speak  in  public  is  also  un- 
commonly good  ;  and  he  has  been  appointed  to  deliver  the  valedictory 
on  the  day  of  Commencement.  But  to  what  use  he  will  apply  his 
learning  and  eloquence  I  know  not.  Probably  he  will  be  a  lawyer  and 
politician.  His  views  and  feelings  on  the  subject  of  religion  are  known 
only  to  himself.  He  is  so  reserved  that  nobody  attempts  to  draw  him 
out ;  but  his  whole  deportment  is  as  correct  as  it  easily  could  be.  Xo- 
body  ever  expects  to  see  anything  in  him  but  regularity  and  equa- 
nimity." 

The  expectation  as  regards  his  following  the  profession  of 
the  law  was  not  fulfilled  ;  but  we  shall  soon  hear  him  crying 


94  MR.    MoCALL.  [1326. 

out  to  God  for  mercy  through  Christ  Jesus,  and  in  thanks  for 
the  infinite  favours  already  bestowed  on  him.  It  is  by  no 
means  unlikely  that  his  thoughts  were  often  turned  to  this 
great  subject  at  this  grave  juncture  in  his  life. 

It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  so  many  distinguished  men 
who  were  his  classmates  still  survive,  and  these  still  retain  a 
pleasing  and  vivid  memory  of  their  college  friend  and  rival. 
I  shall  now  present  the  reminiscences  of  Mr.  McCall  of  Phila- 
delphia (who  drew  lots  with  him  for  the  valedictory),  which 
cannot  fail  to  be  read  with  gratification. 

Mr.  McCall  writes : 

"  Addison  Alexander  was  rather  reserved  and  retiring  in  Lis  dispo- 
sition, and  residing  at  home,  he  did  not  mingle  with  the  students  as 
much  as  he  otherwise  would  have  done.  It  was  only  towards  the  close 
of  our  college  career  that  I  saw  him  quite  frequently,  and  had  the 
pleasure  of  a  somewhat  intimate  fellowship  with  him.  I  was  then 
struck  with  the  vein  of  rich  humour  and  pleasantry  that  played  under 
his  quiet  exterior. 

"  His  brilliant  talents  and  fine  attainments  were  appreciated  by  all  of 
us.  He  was  without  doubt  the  first  scholar  in  the  class.  Napton  camo 
nearest  to  him,  but  I  think  Alexander,  take  him  all  in  all,  had  the  pre- 
eminence. An  excellent  mathematician,  a  first-rate  linguist,  an  accom- 
plished writer — he  failed  in  nothing  and  was  the  object  of  general  admi- 
ration. 

"  I  had  the  unmerited  honour  of  drawing  lots  with  him  for  the  Vale- 
dictory and  the  Latin  Salutatory.  He  drew  the  former,  and  I  well  re- 
member that  his  performance  was  distinguished  for  its  excellence. 

"  I  have  always  felt  proud  of  being  his  classmate,  and  although  I  saw 
him  very  rarely  after  leaving  college,  I  never  ceased  to  entertain  for 
him  an  admiration  whicli  increased  year  by  year  with  his  expanding 
fame. 

"  The  traits  of  his  character  and  the  leading  incidents  in  his  career, 
alas !  too  short,  well  deserve  to  be  preserved  in  a  biographical  memoir. 
I  am  delighted  to  learn  that  you  have  undertaken  it,  and  I  only  regret 
that  I  am  not  able  to  furnish  you  any  material  worthy  of  being  intro- 
duced into  your  work." 

I  have  it  on  the  best  authority  that  Mr.  McCall  was  him- 
self in  the  judgment  of  the  faculty  second  in  point  of  colle- 


^x.lT.3  HIS    SCHOLARSHIP.  95 

giate  attainment  to  no  one  in  the  class,  and  his  subsequent 
eminence,  and  the  nature  of  his  daily  occupations,  render  his 
testimony  as  to  his  classmate's  character,  and  scholarship,  and 
genius,  not  a  whit  less  important  than  that  even  of  Judge 
Napton.  The  modesty  of  Mr.  McCall  would  throw  a  cloud 
over  the  fact  that  in  the  college  studies  he  was  himself  con- 
sidered, by  the  faculty  at  least,  and  without  hesitation  the 
equal  of  Mr.  Alexander. 


CHAPTER  III. 

It  was  while  in  college  that  he  seems  to  have  formed  the 
habit  of  keeping  a  commonplace-book,  and  employed  for  this 
purpose  a  huge  folio  volume  of  stiff  paper  hound  in  heavy, 
rough  leather  of  the  colour  of  gingerbread.  This  volume  I 
have  carefully  inspected.  It  was  afterwards  used  by  one  of 
his  brothers  as  a  scrap-book,  and  much  that  the  original  owner 
wrote  in  it  is  thus  blotted  out.  What  remains  consists  of 
catalogues  of  the  various  classes  and  honour-men  for  a  number 
of  successive  years,  fragments  of  speeches,  curious  autographs, 
snatches  of  poetry,  and  bursts  of  ineffable  nonsense.  Several 
of  his  brothers  wrote  in  it  at  a  later  date,  and  one  day  in 
1830  as  he  sat  in  the  window  his  brother  James  inscribed  in 
it  some  very  pretty  original  verses.  Among  all  the  treasures 
of  this  old  register  none  are  more  valuable  than  the  first 
draught  of  Addison's  now  famous  valedictory,  and  another 
very  remarkable  effusion  of  his  entitled  the  Peruvians.  This 
piece  is  one  of  the  most  florid  and  rhythmical  of  all  his  pro- 
ductions. The  tune  of  the  sentences  is  peculiar — something 
like  that  of  Ossian.  It  is  nothing  but  a  fragment,  or  rather  a 
succession  of  fragments,  some  of  which  are  broken  off  in  the 
middle  of  a  sentence.  It  is  highly  and  richly  imaginative, 
and  some  few  of  its  descriptions  are  very  chaste,  reminding 
one  of  those  of  Prescott.  The  whole  is  exceedingly  impas- 
sioned, and  admirably  suited  to  the  purposes  of  college  decla- 
mation. I  am  informed  on  the  best  authority  that  the  finished 
oration  was  actually  pronounced  by  one  of  his  comrades,  on 
the  college  stage.  The  piece  originated  in  this  way.  Ilis 
brother  William  one  day  brought  him  a  poem  on  "  the  Incas,'' 
which  he  seemed  to  admire  and  made  the  basis  of  a  speech  he 
had  been  asked  to  write  for  one  of  his  distressed  mates.* 

*  The  admiration  Dr.  Addison  Alexander  had  for  the  poet  Cowper  was  con- 
stantly showing  itself,  and  in  ways  that  would  little  be  suspected.    The  allusion 


At.  17J  DECLINES   THE    TUTORSHIP.  97 

In  September,  1826,  Mr.  Alexander,  as  we  have  just  seen, 
was  graduated  at  Princeton,  with  the  valedictory  honours  of 
his  class,  having  divided  the  spolia  opima  of  scholarship  at 
the  rather  early  age  of  seventeen. 

About  the  same  time  in  the  following  year,  viz.,  on  the 
27th  of  September,  1827,  he  was  appointed  a  tutor  in  the  Col- 
lege of  New  Jersey,  but  declined ;  probably  because  he  was  al- 
ready making  great  strides  in  his  Oriental  studies,  and  wanted 
ample  time  for  still  greater.  He  was  also  enjoying  the  luxury 
of  vast  but  discursive  reading.  Certain  it  is,  tbat  the  interval 
between  his  graduation  and  his  acceptance  of  the  post  of 
teacher  in  Mr.  Patton's  Seminary,  in  1829,  was  spent  in  almost 
incredible  linguistical  toils,  and  especially  in  prosecuting  his 
early  researches  in  the  Asiatic  languages.  He  was  also  begin- 
ning to  pay  more  attention  than  formerly  to  the  languages  of 
tbe  West.  He  joyously  seized  this  opportunity  of  comparative 
leisure,  to  perfect  his  knowledge  of  those  tongues  with  which 
he  was  already  acquainted,  and  to  extend  his  inquiries  along 
every  shining  radius  of  the  great   circle  which  embraced   so 

in  his  Isaiah  to  Cowper's  free  paraphrase  of  the  137th  Psalm,  ("  By  the  rivers 

of  Babylon  there  we  sat  down"),  and  to  his  application  of  some  of  its  noblest 

imagery  to  the   case  of  the  Incas,  is   evidently  to   the  superb   passage  in 

•«  Charity : " 

"  Oh  could  their  ancient  Incas  rise  again, 
How  would  they  take  up  Israel's  taunting  strain  ? 
Art  thou  too  fallen,  Iberia  1    Do  we  see 
The  robber  and  the  murderer  weak  as  we  ? 
Thou  that  hast  wasted  earth,  and  dared  despise 
Alike  the  wrath  and  mercy  of  the  skies, 
Thy  pomp  is  in  the  grave,  thy  glory  laid 
Low  in  the  pits  thine  avarice  has  made. 
We  come  with  joy  from  our  eternal  rest, 
To  see  the  oppressor  in  his  turn  oppressed. 
Art  thou  the  god,  the  thunder  of  whose  han<J 
Rolled  over  all  our  desolated  land, 
Shook  principalities  and  kingdoms  down, 
And  made  the  nations  tremble  at  his  frown  ! 
The  sword  shall  light  upon  thy  boasted  powers. 
And  waste  them,  as  thy  sword  has  wasted  ours. 
'Tis  thus  Omnipotence  his  law  fulfils, 
And  Vengeance  executes  what  Justice  wills." 

Giigg  t  Elliot,  Philadelphia,  1811,  p.  35. 


98  CHARLES    CAMPBELL.  [1827. 

many  subjects  with  regard  to  -which,  at  present,  he  had  hut 
slight  information,  or  none  at  all. 

A  gentleman  of  Virginia  writes  that  he  had  often  heard 
the  praises  of  Addison  Alexander  sounded  by  a  very  lovely 
young  female  relative  of  his,  who  had  "left  no  common 
picture  "  in  the  mind  of  her  listener  "  of  a  young  prodigy  of 
intellect  and  scholarship."  This  gentleman,  on  going  to 
Princeton  as  a  student  of  the  college,  found  that  the  picture 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  fair  kinswoman  was  not  overdrawn.  He 
says,  "  I  was  very  naturally  led  to  visit  at  his  father's  ;  and, 
besides  the  pleasant,  gentle  welcome  which  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander  always  gave  one  coming  from  his  native  place,  I 
always  felt  when  I  saw  that  bright,  genial,  sincere-looking 
face  of  Mrs.  Alexander,  on  which  the  roses  of  youth  had  not 
yet  entirely  faded,  and  heard  her  talk  in  her  kind,  earnest 
manner,  that  I  was  in  some  measure  back  again  in  Virginia. 
But  Addison  was  very  much  of  a  recluse,  and  I  was  pressed 
with  college  studies,  and  I  did  not  make  up  much  acquaintance 
with  him  during  that  period  ;  though  my  appointment  along 
with  him  on  a  very  important  special  committee,  which,  for 
some  time,  had  frequent  sessions,  brought  me  at  that  time 
into  a  good  deal  of  intercourse  with  him.  One  thing,  how- 
ever, impressed  me  then,  as  I  believe  it  has  universally  im- 
pressed people  in  regard  to  him,  I  mean  the  unpretending 
simplicity  of  his  character.  Nobody  could  have  seen  in  him 
the  exhibition  of  any  consciousness  of  his  extraordinary  superi- 
ority, and  so  it  was  always  in  my  observation  of  him." 

This  must  have  been  either  during  or  just  after  Mr.  Alex- 
ander's own  connexion  with  the  college  as  a  student.  I  think 
it  not  unlikely  it  Avas  in  1827  or  '28,  when  he  was  a  resident- 
graduate  in  the  town  and  before  he  became  connected  with 
Mr.  Patton  and  Edsrehill. 

There  are  but  few  incidents  relating  to  this  transition- 
period  between  his  life  as  a  college  student  and  his  life  as  an 
usher  or  schoolmaster.  "Some  years  after  graduating,"  writes 
Mr.  Campbell,  "  I  happened  to  pass  a  week  or  two  at  the  Rev. 
Dr.   Archibald  Alexander's,  in  Princeton.     I  observed  that 


^Et.18.]  testimony  OF   PROFESSOR   HART.  99 

Addison  did  not  eat  with  the  family,  but  after  them  and  by 
himself.  He  glided  into  the  dining-room  with  noiseless  adroit- 
ness, bis  singularity  in  this  particular  being  apparently  ae- 
qiiiesced  in  by  the  family  without  comment.  Tbe  presence  of 
visitors  or  company  in  the  house,  as  a  general  rule,  be  appeared 
to  ignore."  This  he  attributed  to  an  extreme  constitutional 
diffidence  and  reserve.  "  In  general  he  was,  at  tins  time, 
remarkably  taciturn,  without  being  at  all  morose.  He  was 
'  swift  to  hear  and  slow  to  speak.'  Yet  no  one  took  more 
pleasure  in  conversation  than  he,  only  he  confined  it  to  a  very 
few."  During  this  sojourn  of  Mr.  Campbell's  at  Dr.  Alex- 
ander's house,  he  occupied  the  same  room  with  Addison,  and 
the  two  sometimes  lay  awake  talking  till  a  late  hour.  "  His 
pent-up  thoughts,  when  they  found  vent,  flowed  in  a  strong 
current.  In  the  upstairs  room,  where  we  slept,  he  had  his 
manuscripts  arranged  on  the  floor  around  the  room,  along  the 
washboard,  where  he  could  readily  lay  his  hand  on  any  one 
that  he  wanted.  He  was  at  this  time  writing  for  a  paper 
published  in  Princeton.  I  remember  reading  a  humorous 
account  of  Commencement-day,  at  Princeton,  in  which  Addi- 
son, who  spoke  to  so  few  persons,  seemed  to  know  not  only 
what  the  country  people,  who  were  present  on  that  occasion, 
talked  about,  but  also  how  they  talked."  * 

It  is  with  lively  pleasure  that  I  now  have  recourse  to  the 
memory  and  kindness  of  Professor  John  S.  Hart,  LL.  D.  of 
Trenton,  formerly  of  the  EdgehiU  school.  "  From  the  year 
1826  down  to  the  date  of  Addison's  death,"  writes  Dr.  Hart, 
"  no  student  I  suppose  ever  came  to  Princeton,  without  hav- 
ing his  imagination  excited  by  stories  bordering  upon  the  mar- 
vellous, in  regard  to  the  prodigious  learning  and  the  mental 
endowments  of  the  studious  recluse  who  was  seldom  seen,  but 
who  was  known  to  dwell  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  Theological  Seminary."  He  well  remembers  "the  impres- 
sion this  intellectual  giant  made  upon  my  own  youthful  imag- 
ination.    The  traditions  of  the  town  in  regard  to   him,  and 

*  This  is  an  exact  description  of  tbe  letters  of  Job  Raw,  in  tbe  Fatriot. 


100  PHILOLOGICAL    SOCIETY.  [1827. 

the  occasional  glimpses  I  had  of  him,  gave  me  my  first  idea 
of  genius,  in  the  highest  meaning  of  the  word,  and  in  my  in- 
tercourse with  him  in  later  years,  which  at  times  was  entirely 
free  and  familiar,  that  first  impression  was  only  confirmed  and 
deepened.  No  man  that  I  have  ever  met  filled  so  entirely  my 
conception  of  mental  greatness  of  the  very  highest  order." 

The  first  actual  evidence  of  Addison's  abilities  that  came 
under  Professor  Hart's  notice  was  in  the  formation  of  the  Phi- 
lological *  Society  in  the  college,  in  the  year  1828.  Professor 
Patton,  who  then  occupied  the  chair  of  ancient  languages  in 
the  college,  and  who  was  a  great  enthusiast  in  his  department, 
it  seems  endeavoured  to  infuse  some  of  his  own  enthusiasm 
into  the  young  men  under  his  instruction.  "  For  this  purpose 
he  called  Addison  to  his  special  assistance,  and  with  the  coop- 
eration of  the  other  members  of  the  faculty  and  of  the  stu- 
dents, the  Philological  Society  was  formed,  and  Professor  Pat- 
ton  generously  placed  upon  its  shelves  for  the  free  use  of  the 
members  the  entire  contents  of  his  private  library,  which  was 
particularly  rich  in  rare  and  costly  works  on  philological  sci- 
ence. One  part  of  the  plan  was  to  have  stated  meetings,  at 
which  papers  were  to  be  read  on  various  subjects."  The  first 
paper  that  was  read,  and  the  only  one  of  which  he  had  any 
distinct  recollection,  was  by  Addison.  "  From  his  reputed 
antecedents  I  expected  to  hear  an  essay,  learned  indeed  and 
able,  but  dry  and  abstruse,  on  some  nice  point  of  philological 
inquiry.  Instead  of  that,  we  were  treated  to  a  discourse  on 
the  duty  of  studying  our  own  English  classics,  dwelling  with 
particular  emphasis,  I  recollect,  upon  the  noble  diction  and 
the  gorgeous  imagery  of  Edmund  Burke;  and,  as  I  listened 
to  the  rich  racy  English  of  his  own  glowing  periods,  and  no- 
ticed the  peculiar  Addisonian  grace  and  elegance  which  marked 
the  youthful  composition,  it  seemed  as  if  it  must  have  been  not 
accidental,  but  by  some  mysterious  prescience,  that  he  had 
been  named  Joseph  Addison."     He  remembers  at  all  events, 

*  This  is  Professor  Hart's  name  for  it.  If  there  were  not  two  societies  of 
like  name,  this  was  called  the  Philologian. 


^It.18.3  LOVE    FOR   ENGLISH   CLASSICS.  101 

that  it  was  a  common  remark  among  the  students,  after  hear- 
ing that  essay,  that  Addison  Alexander  was  well  named. 
"  Such  was  the  effect  produced  on  my  mind  by  the  youthful 
performance.  I  dare  say  there  are  scores  of  others  still  living 
who  would  testify  to  the  same  effect  having  been  produced  on 
them." 

This  love  of  the  best  English  classics  for  their  own  sake, 
and  not  at  all  because  other  people  admired  them,  was  always 
a  marked  trait  in  Mr.  Alexander's  intellectual  character. 
Johnson,  Swift,  Steele,  and  Addison  were  in  his  youthful 
fancy  almost  Avorthy  to  be  rivals  of  Sir  William  Jones  him- 
self in  the  estimation  of  scholars  and  men  of  taste.  What 
struck  him  in  Johnson  was  not  idiomatic  elegance,  as  in  the 
charming  essayist  and  critic  of  the  Spectator,  but  Herculean 
sense,  knowledge,  and  energy,  and  musical  cadence.  Burke, 
and  the  whole  school  of  fresh  original  writers  who  overlapped 
or  succeeded  the  age  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  and  Garrick, 
filled  him  afterwards  with  a  sense  of  new  and  increasing 
enjoyment,  as  well  as  that  Cicero  of  the  English  pulpit,  the 
incomparable  Robert  Hall.  As  to  Burke,  he  was  in  his 
esteem  more  than  a  second  Johnson,  with  a  magnificence  of 
his  own,  and  without  Johnson's  faults.  It  was  just  like  the 
writer  of  the  essay  here  noticed  to  defeat  the  expectations  of 
those  who  looked  for  an  abstruse  philological  disquisition 
from  the  young  linguist.  He  rejoiced  at  every  chance  of 
thus  baffling  curiosity. 

It  cannot  now  be  known  when  Addison  first  became  a  con- 
tributor to  the  public  press,  but  probably  when  he  was  at 
school  with  Mr.  Baird.  We  know  that  he  used  to  print  news- 
papers with  a  pen  at  that  time.  A  paper  was  published  in 
Princeton  called  the  New  Jersey  Patriot.  In  less  than  three 
months  after  leaving  college,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  con- 
tributed to  that  paper  an  article  of  two  columns  and  a  half  on 
Persian  poetry,  which  attracted  attention,  and  was  especially 
commended  to  the  notice  of  the  public  in  an  editorial  article 
of  the  paper  in  which  it  appeared.  He  wrote  during  the  en- 
suing winter  some  caustic  political  squibs  over  the  signature 


102  THE    PATRIOT.  [182T. 

of  "  The  Jesuit,"  in  reference  to  the  election  of  a  United  States 
Senator  for  New  Jersey,  which  had  just  taken  place  and 
caused  great  excitement  in  the  state. 

In  the  following  summer  the  Patriot  ceased  to  he  a  politi- 
cal paper,  was  enlarged  and  placed  by  its  proprietor  under 
the  editorial  charge  of  Mr.  Alexander  and  one  of  his  brothers. 
This  position  afforded  full  scope  for  his  prolific  pen.  In  addi- 
tion to  editorial  matter  and  current  news,  he  almost  covered 
the  broad  sheet  with  essays,  poems,  tales,  and  communications, 
to  which  various  signatures  were  attached. 

It  was  at  this  time  and  at  this  early  age  that  some  of  the 
articles  at  a  later  day  published  in  the  Philadelphia  Monthly 
Magazine  appeared,  such  as  "  The  Fall  of  Ispahan,"  "Greece 
in  1827,"  and  "The  Tears  of  Esau."  He  wrote  for  this  paper 
a  tale  called  "  The  Quaker  Settlement,"  of  which  I  can  dis- 
cover no  vestioe.  He  wrote  also  a  tale  called  "  The  Jewess 
of  Damascus." 

The  Patriot  soon  ceased  for  want  of  patronage.* 

About  this  time  a  literary  weekly  paper  known  as  the 
Souvenir  had  a  short  existence  in  Philadelphia.  The  editor 
offered  prizes  for  the  best  Essay,  Poem,  Tale,  and  Biography. 
Addison  went  in  for  all  of  them,  and  on  the  sealed  envelope 
identifying  the  author,  placed  the  name  of  "  Horace  Seaford, 
care  of  J.  A.  A.,"  &c.  The  publisher  not  finding  it  convenient 
to  pay  the  prizes  offered,  announced  that  he  would  give  a  cer- 
tain number  of  copies  of  his  paper  to  the  successful  writer ; 
and  on  the  opening  of  the  seals,  Addison  was  inundated  with 


*  During  the  days  that  the  Patriot  was  at  the  height  of  its  circulation,  a  pro- 
tracted controversy,  occupying  column  upon  column,  in  weekly  instalments, 
was  carried  on  in  successive  numbers  of  that  journal,  on  the  vexed  subject  of 
Dancing.  The  contending  writers  were  a  leading  clergyman  and  a  distinguished 
layman.  After  the  matter  had  gone  to  great  lengths,  and  the  readers  of  the 
paper  were  becoming  excessively  weary  of  the  conflict  and  of  the  topic  that  had 
provoked  it,  Addison,  who  was  then  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Patriot,  brought 
the  matter  to  a  sudden  close  with  the  characteristic  remark  in  large  type,  that 
"  he  presumed  the  spirit  of  St.  Vitus  himself  must  be  satisfied  by  this  time  with 
what  had  been  said  on  both  sides  of  the  question." 


Mr.  la] 


TERSIAN    POETS.  103 


copies  of  the  paper  addressed  to  "Horace  Seaford,  care  of 
J.  A.  A. 

I  am  so  fortunate  as  to  be  able  to  give  some  extracts  from 
the  article  on  "  The  Persian  Poets."  It  is  signed  "  Ali."  It 
will  be  remembered  that  it  was  written  by  a  youth  of  little 
more  than  seventeen,  and  who  was  generally  supposed  to  know 
nothing  of  oriental  literature  at  first  hand.  How  eiToneous 
this  conception  was,  we  have  already  had  occasion  to  remark. 

After  touching  upon  the  wide  difference  in  nature  and  de- 
gree between  the  influences  that  tend  to  pi'omote  works  of 
science,  and  the  circumstances  which  foster  works  of  imagina- 
tion and  taste,  he  affirms  that  no  country  has  abounded  in  the 
latter  more  remarkably  than  Persia.  She  has  not  indeed,  he 
admits,  afforded  to  her  sons  those  artificial  aids  which  consti- 
tute the  apparatus  of  the  western  scholar,  but  on  the  other 
hand,  he  urges,  she  has  richly  furnished  them  with  all  that 
tends  to  develope  the  latent  elements  of  poetic  talent,  and 
raise  them  to  maturity.  "  It  has  been  justly  observed,"  he 
continues,  "that  the  Age  of  Poetry  lies  midway  between  bar- 
barism and  complete  refinement.  It  is  neither  to  freedom 
from  all  mental  discipline  and  application,  nor  to  the  immen- 
sity of  public  libraries,  or  to  the  ease  and  excellence  of  public 
instruction,  that  the  poet  owes  his  inspiration.  It  is  neither 
among  the  restraints  of  elegant  society,  nor  the  wild  excesses 
of  savage  life,  that  the  muses  work  their  wonders.  It  is  rather 
among  scenes  where  the  revolting  harshness  of  unsubdued 
ferocity  has  been  removed,  but  the  gloss  of  excessive  refine- 
ment has  not  yet  neutralized  the  energies  of  genius — where 
nature  herself  wears  a  poetic  garb,  and  the  manners  of  men 
are  modelled  after  her.  There  the  spirit  of  poetry  is  not  a 
shy  and  haughty  power,  inhabiting  the  retirements  of  the 
learned,  and  looking  on  the  multitude  only  to  despise  them, 
but  a  gentler  influence,  which  though  it  bends  in  the  exercise 
of  its  power  to  the  lowest  intellects,  gives  them  elevation, 
Avhile  it  loses  none  itself;  like  the  Peris  of  Persian  romance, 
which  feed  on  the  flowers  and  perfumes  of  earth,  though  they 
dwell  in  the  regions  of  the  air." 


-»■ 


104  ORIENTAL    SCENES.  [1828. 

How  far  this  description  may  be  applied  to  Persia,  he  pro- 
poses to  determine  by  an  unerring  test  as  he  thinks,  in  litera- 
ture as  in  morals,  by  the  degree  of  privilege  and  opportunity 
enjoyed.  This  he  does  by  considering  the  advantages  which 
she  has  afforded  to  her  poets.  After  speaking  of  the  fertility 
of  fancy  to  which  must  be  ascribed  the  hyperbolic  tendency 
so  visible  in  the  style  and  conceptions  of  their  authors,  he 
proceeds  to  restrict  his  review  to  their  exclusive  advantages, 
which  have  aided  the  natural  powers  of  the  poet ;  and  these 
he  proposes  to  consider  without  regard  to  intellectual  endow- 
ments. 

In  the  midst  of  the  discussion  of  this  point  there  occurs 
the  following  passage : 

"The  genius  of  the  Persian  was  never  compelled  to  struggle  -with 
disadvantages  of  geographical  position — to  borrow  his  ideas  of  verdure 
upon  earth  and  cloudless  serenity  in  the  skies,  from  the  writings  of  an- 
other age  and  nation — to  outrage  the  sensibilities  of  his  auditors  or 
readers  by  si-iging  the  praises  of  perpetual  spring  amidst  the  horrors  of 
Arctic  winter,  by  planting  roses  beneath  the  avalanche,  and  rearing 
bowers  on  the  shores  of  a  frozen  sea.  His  eyes  were  opened  on  scenes 
where  the  loftiest  flights  of  his  imagination  were  matched  by  the  glo- 
ries of  the  world  around  him— where  his  boldest  pictures  of  the  majesty 
of  nature  were  but  copies  of  the  mountains  which  he  climbed  in  infancy, 
and  his  most  luxuriant  descriptions  of  fairy  scenery  were  drawn  from 
the  realities  of  his  native  valleys. 

"In  perfect  accordance  with  the  face  of  nature  were  the  manners  of 
the  people.  In  the  character  and  customs  of  most  Mohammedan  na- 
tions, but  especially  the  Persians,  there  ever  has  been  and  still  may  he 
observed  that  rich  peculiarity  so  exclusively  appropriated  by  the  people 
of  the  East,  as  to  have  acquired  almost  universally  the  name  of  Oriental. 
It  is  the  same  poetic  cast  of  manners  portrayed  in  the  sacred  scrip- 
tures, that  picturesque  simplicity  of  language,  that  figurative  express- 
iveness of  action,  which  is  so  interesting  to  every  cultivated  mind  from 
the  power  of  association ;  whether  it  occur  in  the  record  of  eternal 
truth  or  in  the  trivial  page  of  Asiatic  fiction.  The  very  dress,  food, 
and  colloquial  phrases  of  the  East  are  objects  of  lively  interest,  from 
their  poetic  character  and  their  correspondence  with  the  pictures  in 
that  book,  whose  sacred  precepts  and  sublime  descriptions  fell  so  early 
and  so  often  on  the  unconscious  ear  of  infancy  that  we  cannot  trace 


<Et.  18.] 


PERSIAN    LEGENDS.  105 


their  introduction  to  the  mind,  but  retain  them  like  the  shadowy  image 
of  a  half-forgotten  dream.  It  is  this  early  familiarity  with  the  Bible, 
that  causes  the  imagination  (though  schooled  and  chastened  by  the 
nicest  art  and  subjected  to  the  control  of  the  soundest  understanding) 
to  yield  without  resistance  to  the  spell  thrown  over  it  by  the  witchery 
of  oriental  romance.  We  may  cling  to  the  familiar  state  of  things 
around  us,  or  shrink  from  the  thought  of  transition  to  another.  But 
while  we  retain  our  early  impressions  of  camels,  caravans,  and  deserts 
— of  dwelling  in  tents,  and  sleeping  on  housetops,  we  must  feel  that 
these  are  the  modes  of  life  most  congenial  to  the  poet,  and  the  scenes 
most  susceptible  of  poetic  delineation." 

It  was  in  such  a  situation,  lie  goes  on  to  say,  that  the  Per- 
sian poet  undertook  the  task  of  perpetuating  the  history  of  his 
native  land  by  the  power  of  immortal  verse  ;  and  there  could 
not  be  a  subject  more  fitted,  as  he  conceives,  for  the  wildest 
flights  of  the  most  exuberant  fancy.  "  The  historical  legends 
of  ancient  Iran,  which  survived  the  Arab  conquest  and  are 
still  fondly  cherished  by  the  modern  inhabitants,  are  full  of 
appropriate  themes  for  the  loftiest  efforts  of  the  muse.  Songs 
of  chivalry  and  love,  which  are  often  thought  peculiar  to  the 
European  bard,  have  ever  been  favourites  with  the  populace 
of  Persia;  and  no  troubadour  or  minstrel  of  the  west  ever 
tuned  his  harp  for  the  recital  of  exploits  more  wild  and  daring 
than  those  of  Firdusi's  heroes."  Nor  are  their  characters,  in 
his  opinion,  entirely  void  of  that  species  of  refinement  which 
was  the  glory  of  the  European  knight  in  the  golden  age  of 
chivalry,  and  which  so  strongly  distinguished  him  from  the 
rude  and  bloody  warriors  of  other  lands  and  eras.  "  So  much 
nearer  indeed,"  he  protests,  "  does  the  modern  knight  approach 
to  the  ancient  heroes  of  the  East  than  to  the  huge  but  childish 
characters  in  Homer,  that  we  can  scarcely  help  concluding, 
that  between  the  former  there  exists  a  natural  affinity,  while 
the  latter  are  of  a  different  race."  The  attachment  of  the  Per- 
sians to  the  memory  of  those  primeval  warriors  he  thinks  is 
strongly  evinced  by  the  tenacity  with  which  they  have  pre- 
served the  fragments  of  their  early  history.  "  Though  the 
triumphant  Khalif,  with  his  Arab  troops  had  introduced  the 
5* 


106  PERSIAN    MIND.  [1827. 

Koran,  and  converted  every  fire-temple  to  a  mosque — though 
the  religion  and  the  laws  of  Mohammed  were  universally  dif- 
fused, the  vanquished,  while  they  adopted  hotli,  retained  their 
national  affections.  While  they  heard  with  indifference  the  tri- 
umph of  Omar  and  Othm  an  over  Greece,  Syria,  and  Egypt, 
they  cherished  the  recollection  of  their  native  conquerors  ; 
and  while  the  Arab  bard  found  little  in  the  character  or 
actions  of  the  prophet  and  his  successors  to  be  the  subject  of 
poetical  embellishment,  the  exploits  of  Zab  and  JRitstam  fur- 
nished an  exhaustless  theme  to  the  minstrelsy  of  Persia." 

But  the  most  remarkable  advantage  enjoyed  by  the  bards 
of  Persia,  he  believes,  is  unquestionably  to  be  found  in  the 
rich  and  romantic  mythology  peculiar  to  that  land  of  poets. 
"It  may  be  regarded  as  a  singular  phenomenon,  that  the 
inflexible  spirit  and  uncompromising  bigotry  of  Islam  should 
have  allowed  itself  to  be  entwined  v/ith  so  wild  a  relic  of 
ancient  Paganism.  Though  the  sacred  cross  was  trodden, 
with  the  crown  of  Constantine,  beneath  the  foot  of  the  Moslem 
— though  every  remnant  of  Arab  idolatry  was  exterminated 
by  the  unsparing  zeal  of  the  prophet  and  his  Khalifs — 
though  the  sacred  fire  was  extinguished  upon  every  altar, 
from  the  Caspian  to  the  Persian  Gulf;  the  mythology  of 
Iran  was  too  elastic  to  be  trodden  down,  too  ethereal  for  an- 
nihilation. The  mind  of  the  Persian  seems  constructed  for 
the  reception  of  poetic  images  and  the  enjoyment  of  romantic 
fiction  ;  so  that  although,  when  the  alternative  of  '  Death, 
Tribute,  or  the  Koran '  was  presented  to  the  vanquished, 
with  wonted  flexibility  they  preferred  the  latter,  yet  the 
fanciful  dreams  of  the  Gebr  poets  and  the  beautiful  supersti- 
tions of  the  Gebr  populace  were  not  forgotten  —  they  were 
blended  with  their  imaginative  efforts.  Thev  were  strangely 
intermixed  with  their  devotions  ;  a  paradoxical  alliance  was 
formed  between  these  dreams  of  fairy-land  and  the  dogmas  of 
the  Koran.  The  holiest  saint  could  subscribe  to  both,  and 
the  devoutest  Shiah,  who  five  times  a  day  repeated  the  solemn 
profession,  '  There  is  no  God  but  God,  and  Mohammed  is  his 
Prophet,'  in  the  midst  of  his  genuflexions  could  tremble  at 


Mr.  18.1  PERSIAN    MYTHOLOGY.  107 

the  power  of  malignant  genii  and  listen  for  the  waving  of  the 
Peri's  pinion  in  the  breeze.  Nor  is  the  Persian's  preference 
of  his  own  mythology  surprising  or  absurd.  Apart  from 
national  and  habitual  feeling,  it  possesses  a  charm  peculiar 
and  delightful.  The  imagination  of  the  Arab  is  teeming  and 
almost  uncontrollable.  But  its  only  flashes  are  flashes  of 
lightning,  and  its  flights  are  the  flights  of  an  eagle  among 
storms  and  tempests.  The  fancy  of  the  Persian  is  more 
delicately  formed.  Its  creations  are  less  bold  and  vigorous, 
but  far  more  airy  and  enchanting ;  and  we  can  scarcely  won- 
der that  the  gross  delights  of  the  Prophet's  Paradise  should 
have  been  despised  for  the  charms  of  Gebr's  Elysium."  What 
follows  will  shock  some  readers.  His  fancy  had  been  per- 
haps too  much  wrought  upon  when  a  child  by  the  stories  of 
the  Arabs,  and  more  recently  by  the  fervid  descriptions  of  the 
Koran.  There  are  some,  however  who  may  agree  with  the 
bold  young  critic.  "  But  this  is  not  all.  The  most  fastidious 
taste,  on  a  fair  comparison  of  this  mythology  with  the  orations 
of  classic  genius  or  Grecian  superstition,  cannot  hesitate  in  a 
preference  of  the  formei*.  There  is,  in  the  fantastic  theology 
of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  a  coldness  and  a  coarseness,  which 
even  the  fire  of  Homer  could  scarce  animate,  and  the  delicacy 
of  Virgil  could  not  wholly  refine.  The  incongruous  mixture 
of  human  and  superhuman  attributes,  and  the  inconceivable 
vicissitudes  in  the  fortunes  of  their  immortals,  united  with  the 
disgusting  excesses  of  human  vice,  and  the  ridiculous  extremes 
of  human  folly,  by  which  they  are  so  often  distinguished, 
render  the  Olympus  or  the  Pantheon  a  poor  field  for  the 
wanderings  of  genius  —  how  poor  in  comparison  with  the 
Jinnistan  of  Persia !  with  the  shadowy  possessors  of  that 
imaginary  region,  the  Peris  and  the  Dives,  those  good  and 
evil  beings  who  fill  the  intermediate  space  in  the  scale  of 
animated  nature  between  the  inhabitants  of  earth  and  the 
inhabitants  of  heaven  !  These  beings  which  may  be  regard- 
ed as  the  originals  of  the  fairy  and  giant  of  European  taste — 
possessed  of  bodies,  but  bodies  formed  of  the  element  of  fire, 
powerful  but  not  almighty,  intelligent  but  not  omniscient  j 


108  POET'S    PARADISE.  [1827. 

the  Peris,  pure  but  not  impeccable  ;  the  Dives,  sinful  but  not 
without  hope,  engaged  in  mutual  war,  but  not  upon  earth, 
neither  dwelling  among  men,  nor  entirely  removed  from  par- 
ticipating in  his  fortunes  ;  sometimes  courting  his  assistance, 
and  often  guiding  his  steps  and  directing  his  destiny  ;  beings 
like  these  may  well  be  made  the  subject  of  poetical  romance. 
They  are  precisely  the  species  of  intermediate  intelligences, 
which  might  be  made  the  machinery  of  an  epic  poem,  and 
possess  this  twofold  advantage  over  the  creations  of  classic 
mythology,  that  while  they  are  far  more  pure,  ethereal,  and 
poetical,  more  like  the  phantasms  of  a  "poet's  phrensy,"  they 
are  still  subjected  to  a  paramount  authority,  and  not  like  the 
gods  of  Homer,  clothed  in  the  vileness  of  mortality,  and  then 
disgraced  by  the  sceptre  of  the  universe.  Their  existence  and 
character  were  wholly  poetical.  They  were  unconnected  with 
religious  faith,  so  that  the  wildest  fictions  respecting  them  de- 
tracted nothing  from  the  Gebr's  reverence  to  the  Deity. 

"  Surrounded,  then,  by  the  most  impressive  and  enchanting 
scenes  of  nature  ;  by  boundless  deserts  and  cultivated  plains ; 
by  frowning  cliffs  and  verdant  valleys  ;  beneath  a  sky  which 
was  never  clouded,  and  among  a  people  who  '  lisped  in  num- 
bers,' the  Persian  poet  sang  of  the  most  chivalrous  exploits 
of  ancient  heroism,  the  most  romantic  fictions  of  a  beautiful 
mythology.  In  such  a  situation  what  might  we  not  expect  ? 
If  anything  more  can  be  conceived,  as  requisite  to  complete 
the  picture  of  the  Poets'  Paradise,  it  is  that  which  we  have 
already  seen  abundantly  supplied  in  the  munificent  patronage 
of  the  great  and  the  enthusiastic  admiration  of  the  populace. 
The  inferior  bards  of  other  lands  may  plead  with  justice  the 
insalubrity  of  climate,  the  ruggedness  of  natm*e's  works  around 
them,  the  rudeness  of  their  countrymen,  the  want  of  encour- 
agement, and  the  absence  of  applause ;  but  when  the  clas- 
sics of  the  land  of  poets  shall  be  subjected  to  the  impartial 
scrutiny  of  Western  taste,  deficiency  of  genius  alone  can  be 
the  apology  of  those  who  may  be  said  to  have  been  born  in 
the  precincts  of  Parnassus,  and  to  have  drawn  their  first  breath 
in  an  atmosphere  of  poetry." 


J3t.  18.]  LITERARY    CAPRICES.  109 

It  will  probably  be  agreed  that  this  was  "  a  right  master- 
ful "  effort  for  a  lad  of  not  over  the  age  at  which  many  go  to 
college.  Indeed,  it  is  by  no  means  unlikely  that  this  produc- 
tion, like  many  others  of  the  same  hand  had  been  composed 
at  an  earlier  period  and  laid  aside  for  future  use.  But  of  this 
there  is  no  certainty.  We  know,  however,  that  the  writer 
who  here  subscribes  himself  "  Ali "  was  as  careless  of  the 
fate  of  such  accidental  effusions  as  the  ostrich  of  her  eggs 
which  she  deposits  in  the  sands  of  the  desert. 

It  would  be  incorrect  to  suppose  that  Dr.  Addison  Alex- 
ander in  after  life  adhered  in  full  to  the  opinions  expressed 
in  this  remarkable  juvenile  critique,  nor  is  it  outside  the  limits 
of  conjecture  to  surmise  that  the  opinions  are  in  some  respects 
as  imaginary  as  the  signature.  While  it  is  true  that  no  man 
was  more  volatile  than  he  in  many  of  his  personal  tastes  and 
preferences,  being  full  of  unaccountable  caprices,  it  is  also 
true  that  he  loved  to  wear  a  literary  mask,  and  to  mystify  his 
readers  in  every  ingenious  manner  possible.  It  was  also  well 
known  that  he  was  fond  of  espousing  sentiments  which  were 
at  once  novel  and  hard  to  defend.  Thus  his  depreciation 
of  the  characters  of  Homer  in  comparison  with  those  of 
Firdusi,  and  his  sallies  at  the  expense  of  the  Olympian  divini- 
ties as  contrasted  with  the  fabulous  creations  of  the  Jinnistan, 
may  or  may  not  be  genuine.  He  may  have  been  carried 
along  impetuously  (as  was  his  wont)  by  the  heat  of  his  youth- 
ful admiration  (which  was  unquestionably  intense)  of  the 
Persian  poets,  even  to  the  disparagement  of  poets  the  most 
illustrious  of  other  countries ;  or,  which  is  almost  equally 
agreeable  to  what  is  known  of  his  whimsical  humours,  he  may 
have  been  merely  actuated  by  a  wish  to  puzzle  the  literati  of 
Princeton,  and  to  excite  a  hubbub  among  the  cultivated 
readers  of  "  The  Patriot."  There  is  good  evidence  in  the 
piece  itself  that  the  writer  sought  for  some  purpose  or  other 
to  conceal  his  hand.  It  is  not  written  in  his  usual  style  ;  at 
least  not  as  a  whole.  There  is  in  some  of  these  balanced  sen- 
tences an  evident  and  exquisite  imitation  of  the  great  literary 
dictator  of  the   previous   century.     No   one   who   is   at   all 


110  IMITATION    OF    JOHNSON.  [1827. 

familiar  with  Rasselas  and  the  Ramhler  can  hesitate  to  come 
to  this  conclusion.  What  could  be  more  like  the  old  "  Bear  " 
of  Bolt  Court  and  the  Mitre  Tavern  than  the  following : 
"  The  incongruous  mixture  of  human  and  superhuman  attri- 
butes, and  the  inconceivable  vicissitudes  in  the  fortunes  of 
their  immortals,  united  with  the  disgusting  excesses  of  human 
vice,  and  the  ridiculous  extremes  of  human  folly;"  or  this: 
"  Surrounded,  then,  by  the  most  majestic  and  enchanting 
scenes  of  nature ;  by  boundless  deserts  and  cultivated  plains  ; 
by  frowning  cliffs  and  verdant  valleys  ;  beneath  a  sky  which 
was  never  clouded,  and  among  a  people  who  lisped  in  num- 
bers;" or  this:  "If  any  thing  more  can  be  conceived,  as 
requisite  to  complete  the  picture  of  the  Poets'  Paradise,  it  is 
that  which  we  have  already  seen  abundantly  supplied  in  the 
munificent  patronage  of  the  great,  and  the  enthusiastic  ad- 
miration of  the  populace." 

We  can  almost  see  before  us  the  unconscious  lexicographer 
as  he  rounded  off  this  sentence  turning  his  candle  upside 
down  at  Mrs.  Boswell's,  and  blowing-  Avith  delight  at  the 
happy  finish  he  had  given  this  ponderous  period.  Mr.  Alex- 
ander's intuitive  taste  prevented  him,  however,  from  pushing 
this  imitation  to  the  verge  of  caricature,  and  thus  spoiling  his 
essay.  The  consequence  is  that  the  style  of  the  production 
taken  as  a  whole,  though  resembling  that  of  the  early  Ram- 
blers, is  as  vigorous  and  original  as  Johnson's  own,  and  where 
his  own  native  qualities  break  out,  much  superior  to  it  on 
literary  grounds.  Whether  this  imitation  of  Johnson  was 
wholly  accidental,  or  not,  is  another  question  :  but  it  will 
be  remembered  that  Addison  and  Johnson  were  in  every 
body's  hands  then,  and  one  of  his  classmates  tells  us  that 
the  young  collegian  was  much  given  to  voluntary  imitations 
of  the  most  admired  of  the  English  classics.  The  young 
graduate's  overweening  partiality  for  Oriental  studies  and 
the  masterpieces  of  Oriental  genius,  had,  as  we  have  seen, 
already  begun  to  wane,  and  was  destined  to  be  almost  entirely 
superseded,  or  at  all  events  overborne,  or  held  in  abeyance, 
by  his  enthusiastic  devotion  to  the  languages  and  still  more 


iEr.iaj  ARABIAN    NIGHTS.  Ill 

to  the  literatures  of  ancient  and  modern  Europe.  The  litera- 
ture of  the  Greeks,  which  is  here  spoken  of  with  a  dash  of 
contempt,  was  afterwards  and  soon  to  become  the  theatre  on 
which,  after  the  sacred  text  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments, 
he  employed  his  best  powers  through  life.  Yet  he  never 
ceased  to  go  for  an  occasional  solace  and  entertainment  to  the 
tales  of  the  Arabs  and  the  sweet  numbers  of  Persia.  One  of 
my  earliest  recollections  of  him  is  that  he  taught  me  a 
Persian  song  (which  I  have  not  yet  forgotten),  and  that 
he  used  to  read  me  "wonderful  legends  and  fabulous  and 
romantic  stories  from  certain  ancient  rolls  inscribed  with 
characters  "which  I  subsequently  learned  were  Arabic.  I  also 
well  remember  reading  for  hours  at  a  time  in  his  study  and 
under  his  approving  eye  (and  that  day  after  day  till  I  finished 
the  volumes),  from  the  pages  of  the  "  Green  Book,"  as  we 
both  loved  to  call  it ;  which  was  nothing  less  than  Lane's 
larger  edition  of  the  Arabian  Nights  with  English  notes, 
with  the  golden  shields  and  Moorish  spears  on  the  back,  and 
the  superb  illustrations  on  the  inside.  The  impression  made 
upon  my  boyish  imagination  by  the  dark  features  and  spread- 
ing wings  of  the  Jinn  drawn  in  the  broad  margin,  will  never 
be  effaced.  But  when  the  ruddy  scholar  placed  me  in  a 
corner  of  his  cane  settee,  and  regaled  me  with  recitations, 
songs,  tales,  descriptions,  and  dialogues  of  his  own,  I  recog- 
nized in  him  a  being  possessing  powers  not  unlike  those  of 
"Sulliman  the  son  of  Daoud,"  who  could  command  the  genii 
and  the  Afrik  at  pleasure  ;  for  no  captivation  was  ever  more 
complete  or  genuine  than  that  under  which  he  held  me  Avhen- 
ever  he  chose  to  do  so,  a  willing  prisoner. 

But  the  Patriot  during  the  time  he  contributed  for  it,  or 
rather,  as  I  might  almost  say,  wrote  it,  contained  very  dif- 
ferent material  from  that  of  which  a  specimen  or  sample  has 
just  been  given.  The  number  before  me  (vol.  ii.  No.  59)  is 
dated  September  29,  1827,  and  bears  this  title  :  "New-Jersey 
Patriot,  Princeton.  Printed  and  published  by  D.  A.  Borren- 
stein."  Underneath  this  superscription  is  the  motto,  "  The 
Safety  of  the  People  is  the  Supreme  Law."     It  is  a  quarto 


112  ARTICLES    SIGNED    TROCHILUS.  [1827. 

sheet  of  moderate  size,  but  -wen-shaped  and  closely  printed. 
The  first  piece  is  a  communication  in  verse  signed  "  Roland," 
and  is  an  address  "to  Music."  This  I  suspect  to  be  from  the 
pen  of  the  invisible  editor,  and  is  an  obvious  imitation  of  the 
style  of  poetry  which  was  so  much  in  vogue  before  Scott  and 
Byron,  and  which  continued  a  sickly  existence  even  after  the 
appearance  of  Wordsworth.  This  is  just  such  poetry  as  Burke 
was  not  ashamed  to  indulge  in  before  he  became  an  orator  and 
a  statesman.  * 

The  next  is  some  idle  stanzas  which  surely  must  have 
sprung  from  a  very  different  brain  !  They  are  in  a  totally 
different  measure,  are  to  "  The  Morrow,"  and  are  signed 
Trochilus.  They  are  puerile  and  worthless,  and  are  the  type 
of  thousands  like  them.  Yet  when  we  read  the  fine  prose 
satire  which  immediately  follows,  and  find  it  too  signed 
Trochilus,  a  piece  marked  by  all  the  energy,  vehemence,  and 
wit  of  Swift,  we  are  led  almost  insensibly  to  the  conclusion 
that  the  lines  to  "  The  Morrow  "  are  also  from  the  editor,  and 
are  either  intended  as  a  burlesque  upon  the  general  mass  of 
fugitive  newspaper  poetry  of  the  day,  or  else  merely  to  throw 
the  reader  off  his  guard ;  and  that  the  satirical  effusion  is  per- 
haps a  conscious  and  if  so  quite  successful  imitation  of  the 
Dean  of  St.  Patrick's.  This  however  is  pure  conjecture.  It 
is  possible  some  of  these  pieces  are  by  other  hands.  Remark- 
able and  innocent  as  this  production  is,  it  is  not  exactly  quota- 
ble. It  contains  among  other  laughable  things  some  sly  and 
characteristic  hits  at  the  mathematicians  and  natural  philoso- 
phers. This  was  doubtless  to  teaze  the  curiosity  of  the  Prince- 
ton professors.  Then  comes  an  exposure  of  a  coloured  charla- 
tan by  the  name  of  Rusworm,  who  had  betrayed  the  confidence 
of  the  venerable  Dr.  Miller  and  others.  Then  we  have  a  letter, 
"  the  original  of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  a  gentleman  of 
Princeton,"  from  David  Garrick,  in  relation  to  a  tragedy  by 
William  Julius  Mickle,  the  translator  of  the  Lusiad.f     It  is 

*  And  specimens  of  which  are  given  in  his  biography  by  Pryor. 
f  The  real  name  of  the  translator  of  Camolus  was  simply  William  Mickle. 
Julius  was  an  afterthought  of  his  own. 


jEt.18.]  COMMENCEMENT,    1827.  113 

addressed  to  George  Johnstone,  Esq. — a  friend  and  patron  of 
the  poet.  "  The  Exile  of  Scio,"  which  follows,  and  purports  to 
he  from  the  "  New  Monthly  Magazine,"  exhibits  strong  signs 
of  the  same  authorship.  My  conviction  is  that  Mr.  Alexander 
had  previously  written  it  and  contributed  it  to  the  Magazine, 
with  which  he  was  certainly  in  communication  ;  as  another 
romantic  and  descriptive  piece  in  this  paper  is  undoubtedly 
by  the  editor. 

The  letter  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  which  figures  on  the  same 
page  is  believed  to  be  genuine.  Two  pieces,  one  on  "  Visita- 
tion of  Schools,"  from  "  an  American  Journal,"  and  one  on 
Archimedes,  fill  up  the  side.  The  inside  is  taken  up  with 
Princeton  matters  and  domestic  news.  In  the  middle  of  the 
page,  however,  are  two  editorials,  one  of  which  is  in  the  usual 
serious  style  of  Mr.  Alexander,  much  affected  in  this  instance, 
it  must  be  confessed,  by  the  Johnsonese  swell.  I  give  a  part 
of  it,  as  it  alfords  us  a  transient  glimpse  of  the  Princeton  Com- 
mencement. There  is  a  full  account  of  the  exercises,  in  an- 
other column  of  the  same  issue.  The  annual  oration  before  the 
American  Whig  and  Cliosophic  Societies  in  joint-meeting  was 
delivered  by  the  Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  in  the  presence  of  an  unu- 
sually large  and  respectable  audience.  The  annual  exhibition 
of  undergraduates  took  place  on  the  evening  of  the  25th.  This 
was  exactly  a  year  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Alexander'  s  own 
graduation,  so  that  he  was  not  yet  ready  to  take  the  master's 
degree.  The  Alumni  Association  of  Nassau  Hall  held  its  first 
annual  meeting  in  the  college  chapel  on  the  morning  of  Com- 
mencement. A  letter  was  read  from  his  Excellency  James 
Madison,  President  of  the  Association,  expressing  his  interest 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  college,  and  the  objects  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved,  that  "  it  is  expedient 
that  a  history  of  Nassau  Hall  be  prepared  for  publication,  and 
that  the  members  of  the  association  be  requested  to  furnish 
during  the  ensuing  year  such  biographical  notices  of  the  Alum- 
ni, as  in  their  opinion  will  be  useful  to  the  college  and  inter- 
esting  to   the   public."     Also,  "that  all   such   biographical 


114  ALUMNI   ASSOCIATION.  [1827. 

notices  be  forwarded  to  Mr.  J.  Addison  Alexander,  of 
Princeton." 

This  history,  if  ever  entered  upon  by  the  young  student, 
was,  it  is  believed,  never  carried  out.*  These  pleasant  assem- 
blages of  the  Alumni  have  been  one  of  the  most  interesting 
features  of  the  Princeton  Commencement  ever  since  the  meet- 
ins:  of  which  record  is  here  made. 

The  editorial  article  to  which  reference  has  been  made, 
begins  thus :  "  We  are  gratified  to  state  that  the  number  of 
persons  attracted  to  Princeton  by  the  ceremonies  of  the  annual 
Commencement,  during  the  present  week,  was  unusually  large. 

*  The  following  names  comprised  the  officers  of  the  association  at  the  time 

referred  to  above : 

President. 

James  Madison  of  Virginia. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Aaron  Ogden  of  New  Jersey,  William  Gaston  of  North  Carolina, 

Richard  Stockton        "  John  Henry  Hobart  of  New  York, 

Andrew  Kirkpatrick  "  Henry  W.  Edwards  of  Connecticut. 

Ashbel  Green  " 

Treasurer. 

Samuel  Bayard  of  New  Jersey. 

Secretary. 
John  Maclean  of  New  Jersey. 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 
Professor  Maclean,  Samuel  T.  Bayard,  Esq.  and  Mr.  William  C.  Alexander. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  some  also  to  know  that  the  members  of  the  Execu- 
tive Committee  of  the  New  Jersey  Bible  Society  at  this  time  were  :  Dr.  Archi- 
bald Alexander,  Chief  Justice  Ewing,  General  Frelinghuysen,  Dr.  Miller,  the 
Rev.  George  S.  Woodhull,  James  S.  Green,  Esq.  and  Samuel  Bayard,  Esq. 

There  is  still  another  item  which  may  have  an  interest  for  practical  men. 
The  delegates  to  the  Convention  for  the  promotion  of  Internal  Improvements, 
assembled  on  the  25th  inst.  at  the  hour  appointed,  in  the  upper  room  of  the 
Academy.  The  honourable  Richard  Stockton,  of  Somerset,  was  appointed  Presi- 
dent, and  the  honourable  William  Coxe,  of  Burlington,  ViceJ?resident ;  John 
M.  Sherrerd,  Esq.  of  Warren,  Secretary,  and  Daniel  C.  Croxall,  Esq.  of  Hunter- 
don, Assistant  Secretary.  Delegates  were  present  from  eight  counties.  The 
business  discussed  was  of  considerable  importance,  but  we  have  no  room  for 
further  allusion  to  it. 


Mt.M.1  FOREIGN    NEWS.  115 

A  larger  audience  has  seldom  been  witnessed  here  on  a  similar 
occasion,  than  that  which  occupied  the  church  on  Wednesday 
morning  and  the  preceding  night.  It  would  give  us  pleasure 
to  regard  this  as  an  indication  of  assuring  interest  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  college."  And  after  some  very  strong  writing 
conies  this  sentence  of  unmistakable  Johnsonese :  "  In  almost 
every  State,  public  means  of  instruction  are  maintained  by 
public  patronage,  and  are  esteemed  and  cherished  as  invalua- 
ble instruments  of  public  prosperity.  We  may  readily  imagine 
then  the  judgment  which  an  enlightened  people  in  an  age  of 
great  and  progressive  illumination,  will  be  prepared  to  pass 
upon  a  community  which  blindly  forgets  the  means  of  its  ex- 
isting greatness,  and  wilfully  rejects  the  only  means  of  future 
elevation." 

The  fourth  page  is  mainly  occupied  by  Foreign  News. 
This  department  of  the  paper  is  in  the  stately  Gazette  style  of 
the  same  columns  in  the  London  Times.  It  is  no  doubt  a 
genuine  extract  from  some  English  paper.  The  tidings  frorn 
Greece,  in  particular,  are  given  in  a  very  sonorous  and  spirited 
manner.  Redshid  Pasha  had  turned  towards  the  interior. 
The  Constantinople  fleet  had  returned  a  second  time  to  Nava- 
rin,  leaving  four  Greek  brigs  under  Lord  Cochrane  to  blockade 
the  entrance  of  the  Gulf  of  Corinth.  Tidings  also  had  arrived 
from  Napolithat  some  Gi-eeks  occupying  a  convent  had  beaten 
and  driven  back  1500  Arabs  whom  Ibrahim  Pacha  had  ad- 
vanced against  them.  Four  hundred  of  the  Barbarians  had 
been  slain  on  the  declivity  of  a  hill,  where  the  descendants  of 
Leonidas  had  prepared  an  ambush. 

The  last  piece  in  the  paper,  which  is  on  "  The  Sea,"  is  cer- 
tainly by  some  writer  after  the  discovery  of  steam,  and  if  not 
already  appropriated,  may  be  safely  attributed  to  the  young 
scholar  whose  pen  we  have  seen  to  have  been  so  busy  on  the 
first  page.  The  treatment  of  the  subject  is  very  brief  and  yet 
very  exhaustive.  The  style  is  so  altered,  as  not  to  be  recog- 
nizable. That  very  summer  he  had  made  his  first  visit  to 
the  sea-shore,  having  gone  to  Long  Branch  with  his  parents. 
He  always  used  to  say  that  what  most  impressed  him  on  the 


116  "THE    SEA."  [1827. 

Bea-beach  was  the  thought  that  he  was  on  the  edge  of  a  great 
continent. 

THE  SEA. 

"There  is  something  in  being  near  the  sea,  like  being  on  the  confines 
of  eternity.  It  is  a  new  element,  a  pure  abstraction.  The  mind  loves  to 
bover  on  tbat  which  is  endless  and  forever  the  same.  People  wonder 
at  a  steamboat,  the  invention  of  man,  managed  by  man,  propelled  by 
man,  that  makes  its  liquid  path  like  a  railway  through  the  sea.  I  won- 
der at  the  sea  itself,  that  vast  Leviathan,  rolled  round  the  earth,  smiling 
in  its  sleep,  waked  into  fury,  fathomless,  boundless,  a  huge  world  of 
water-drops.  Whence  is  it?  Whither  goes  it?  is  it  to  eternity  or 
nothing?  Strange,  ponderous  riddle!  that  we  can  neither  penetrate 
nnr  grasp  in  our  comprehension,  ebbing  and  flowing  like  human  life, 
and  swallowing  it  up  in  '  thy  remorseless  womb ' :  what  art  thou  ? — 
what  is  there  in  common  with  thy  life  and  ours  who  gaze  on  thee? — 
Blind,  deaf,  and  old,  thou  seest  not,  hearest  not,  understandest  not ; 
neither  do  we  understand,  who  behold  and  listen  to  thee !  Great  as 
thou  art,  unconscious  of  thy  greatness,  unwieldy,  enormous,  prepos- 
terous, twin  si-ter  of  matter,  rest  in  thy  'dark  unfathomed  cave'  of 
my>tery,  mocking  human  pride  and  weakness.  Still  it  is  given  to  the 
mind  of  man  to  wonder  at  thee,  to  confess  its  ignorance,  and  to  stand 
in  awe  of  thy  stupendous  might  and  majesty,  and  of  its  own  being 
that  can  question  thee."  * 

*  In  singular  contrast  with  this  successful  essay  in  the  sublime  style  is  a 
critique  that  appeared  in  another  issue  of  the  Patriot,  of  Shelley's  Poems ; 
which  were  then  agitating  the  literary  world  of  Europe.  We  do  not  scruple  to 
make  a  few  extracts. 

*  *  *  »  The  particular  composition  of  Shelley's  which  forms  the  subject 
of  this  review,  is  Prometheus  Unbound,  which  its  author  denominates  a  Lyrical 
Drama,  although,  as  its  author  observes,  it  has  neither  action  nor  dramatic 
dialogue.  It  may  be  observed  by  the  way,  that  writers  of  this  school  are  ex- 
ceedingly (ipt  to  miscall  and  misapply.  The  '  Prometheus  Unbound '  maybe 
regarded  as  a  text-book  in  this  style  of  composition.  The  dramatis  personse 
are  as  follows :  Prometheus  a  male  nondescript,  being  neither  god  nor  man. 
Asia,  ranthea,  and  lone,  female  non-descripts ;  Mercury  and  Apollo,  gods; 
the  Furies,  and  a  Faun.  To  these  add  several  voices — as  the  voices  of  the 
mountains,  voices  of  the  air,  voices  of  the  whirlwinds,  and  a  large  assortment  of 
spirits,  such  as  the  spirit  of  the  moon,  of  the  earth,  of  the  human  mind,  of  the 
hour3  ;  who  all,  says  the  Pieviewer,  attest  their  superhuman  nature,  by  singing 


^Et.  18.]  CRITIQUE    ON    SHELLEY.  117 

At  the  time  Mr.  Alexander  assumed  the  editorial  charge 

and  saying  things  which  no  human  being  can  comprehend.     As  a  specimen  of 
the  Lyrics,  take  the  following  speech  of  a  cloud  : 

'I  silently  laugh  at  my  own  cenotaph, 

And  out  of  the  caverns  of  rain, 
Like  a  child  from  the  womb,  like  a  ghost  from  the  tomb, 
I  arise  and  unbuild  it  again.' 

And  the  following  song  by  the  spirits  of  the  human  mind  : 

'Earth,  Air,  and  Light, 

And  the  spirit  of  Might, 
Which  drives  the  stars  in  their  fiery  flight, 

And  Love,  thought  and  breath, 

The  powers  that  quell  death, 
Wherever  we  soar  shall  assemble  beneath.' 

"  In  imitation  of  this  wonderful  production,  I  once  projected  a  Lyrical 
drama  of  my  own,  which  I  entitled  '  Flibbertigibbet  in  Liquor.'  After  so  long 
a  preface,  it  may  be  unpardonable  to  insert  a  portion  of  the  first  scene.  I  shall 
do  so  however  at  all  hazards,  and  appeal  to  any  impartial  judge  whether  the 
imitation  even  approaches  to  caricature. 

SCENE    I. 
ENTER   TWO    SPIRITS. 

[Spirit  of  Turpentine  sings.] 

We  come !  we  come ! 
From  the  hidden  recess  of  a  puncheon  of  rum, 

Our  fragrant  breath, 

On  the  wings  of  death, 
Is  building  a  house  for  the  deaf  and  dumb. 

[Spirit  of  Wine  sings.] 

Hark!  Hark! 
On  the  breast  of  the  waves  the  seadogs  bark, 

The  frantic  boy, 

In  his  senseless  joy, 
Leaps  into  the  jaws  of  the  hungry  shark. 

[Spirit  of  Turpentine  siyigs.] 

Sleep!  sleep! 
Spirit  of  Wine,  thy  mighty  watch  keep, 

The  billows  sigh, 

While  the  phantoms  fly, 
To  their  cold  wet  home  in  the  gloomy  deep. 

ENTER   THREE    SPIRITS. 

[  Voice  of  Grog  sings.] 
Down!  down! 
Where  the  Spirit  of  Wine  and  his  train  have  flown 


118  PAltTY    POLITICS.  [1827. 

of  the  Patriot,  party  politics  were  running  high.*  The  fierce 
canvass  between  John  Quincy  Adams  (then  President  of 
the  United  States)  and  Andrew  Jackson  was  in  agitation. 
The  paper  was  to  be  neutral ;  but  the  people  expected  some 
politics ;  and  so,  to  meet  this  demand,  the  masked  editor 
would  write  an  editorial  arguing  the  questions  on  both  sides 
and  in  a  manner  so  adroit  that  it  was  not  only  impossible  to 
discover  on  which  side  the  new  champion  was  preparing  to  do 
battle,  but  even  to  detect  where  his  private  sympathies  lay. 


The  soul  of  the  world, 
In  darkness  furled, 
Has  passed  to  its  tomb  with  a  speechless  groan  1 

[  Voice  of  Gravy  sings.] 

The  Spirit  of  Moisture  comes  flying  abroad, 
And  his  train  is  borne  by  the  Cj-prian  god, 

Behold,  Behold, 

The  voice  of  the  ghost 

Of  a  murdered  toast 
Sings  an  anthem  of  praise  in  the  palace  of  gold. 

[  Voice  of  Garlic  sings.] 

Fire!  fire! 
Rise  on  the  wings  of  blue  desire ! 

The  billows  laugh, 

For  the  spirit  of  sleep, 

In  the  lowest  deep 
la  building  a  snowy  cenotaph. 

[The  Three  Voices.] 

The  hour  is  come— from  the  puncheon  of  rum — 

I  see  the  spirit  come  flaming  around. 
'Tis  done— 'tis  done — on  a  beam  of  the  sun — 

We  pass  to  our  graves  with  an  earthquake  of  sound. 

Music — The  spirit  of  sleep  playing  upon  the  Solar  system." 

This  extravaganza  is  signed  W.     The  letters  of  Job  Raw,  on  Commence-' 
ment  Day  and  other  topics,  are  full  of  the  adventures  of  an  absurd  greenhorn 
who  makes  as  many  mistakes  as  Yellowplush  or  Mrs.  Partington. 

*  Numerous  allusions  to  this  contest  will  be  found  in  the  "  Forty  Years' 
Familiar  Letters  "  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Alexander  D.  D.  The  members  of  the 
family  were  amicably  divided  on  this  question.  The  subject  of  these  memoirs 
was  a  political  Gallio. 


^Sr.M.1  PUZZLING    LEADER   OF   AUGUST,    1827.  119 

The  truth  was  he  was  as  strictly  impartial  as  he  professed  to 
be,  but  not  so  warmly  interested  in  the  clash  of  weapons.  All 
that  was  a  ruse.  A  specimen  of  these  puzzling  political  (or 
anti-political)  leaders  is  subjoined.  It  is  enough  to  show  how 
keenly  observant  Mr.  Alexander  was  of  what  was  going  on 
in  the  world. 

The  following  editorial  came  out  in  the  Patriot  of  the  18th 
of  August,  1827,  and  excited  much  curiosity  as  to  its  author- 
ship : 

"As  we  have  already  intimated  our  intention  to  abstain  from  any  participa- 
tion in  the  political  conflicts  which  divide  and  agitate  the  public  mind ;  and  as 
neutrality  is,  in  these  days  of  violence,  regarded  as  more  questionable  and  sus- 
picious than  the  utmost  extravagance  of  party  zeal,  we  submit  to  our  readers 
the  following  considerations,  which  we  trust  will  serve  both  as  an  exposition 
and  vindication  of  the  course  which  we  have  adopted.  It  is  to  be  lamented, 
that,  while  there  is  little  or  no  essential  difference  of  opinion  among  a  large 
majority  of  the  people  as  to  the  fundamental  principles  which  ought  to 
govern  the  councils  of  the  United  States,  the  political  warfare  of  the  present 
day  is  waged  in  a  spirit  which  to  every  man  of  impartial  and  unbiased  judgment 
must  appear  unnecessary  and  even  prejudicial  to  the  character  of  our  country. 
The  privacy  of  domestic  life  has  been  invaded  ; — alleged  offences,  which  time 
had  consigned  to  oblivion,  have  been  raked  from  mouldering  records; — con- 
flicting and  recrimitative  accusations  of  the  most  startling  magnitude  and  impor- 
tance are  urged  by  hostile  partisans  with  a  zeal  and  vehemence  which  makes  it 
difficult  to  ascertain  the  truth.  On  one  side  it  is  averred,  that  General  Jackson 
is  a  '  Military  Chieftain,'  regardless  of  the  constitution  and  laws  of  his  country ; — 
that  he  is  no  friend  to  the  policy  by  which  the  industry  and  resources  of  the 
several  states  can  be  most  successfully  employed ; — that  he  is  supported  by  men 
of  desperate  character  and  l  vaulting  ambition  ; '  that  his  private  history  is 
sullied  with  crimes  ; — that  the  principles  on  which  he  would  administer  public 
affairs  are  in  a  great  measure  unknown,  and,  so  far  as  they  can  be  penetrated, 
at  variance  with  those  which  alone  can  conduct  the  nation  safely  in  a  career 
of  prosperity  and  greatness.  To  Mr.  Adams  it  is  objected,  on  the  other  side, 
that  he  has  been  tried  and  '  found  wanting  ; ' — that  his  adherents  have  made  a 
party  question  of  that  which  ought  to  have  been  supported  merely  on  national 
grounds  and  left  to  rest  upon  its  own  merits  ;  that  by  this  course  they  have 
not  only  put  in  jeopardy  the  due  encouragement  of  national  industry,  but  have 
thrown  the  apple  of  discord  amongst  the  members  of  the  Union  ; — that  he  has 
not  redeemed  the  pledges  which  on  various  occasions  he  has  given,  with  respect 
to  the  principles  which  should  govern  him  in  the  execution  of  his  responsible 
trust ; — that  he  has  employed  the  patronage  of  his  office,  merely  to  secure  his 


120  PUZZLING    LEADER    OF    AUGUST,    1827.  [1827. 

re-election,  and  without  due  regard  to  the  qualifications  of  the  candidates,  and 
has  thereby  sacrificed  the  public  weal  in  seeking  to  promote  his  personal  inter- 
ests ; — that  from  vanity,  or  want  of  correct  judgment,  he  has  excluded  us  from  a 
most  profitable  branch  of  foreign  commerce  ; — that  the  means  by  which  he  at. 
tained  his  present  elevation  were  such  as  render  his  future  exclusion  from  office 
necessary  to  vindicate  the  purity  of  the  elective  franchise,  and  essential  to  the 
honour  and  future  safety  of  the  country. 

"  Such  are  the  charges  proclaimed  against  both  the  candidates  for  the 
presidential  chair  through  the  medium  of  the  press.  Many  of  them  have  been 
recently  promulgated,  and  are  yet  to  be  sustained  by  evidence,  or  demonstrated 
to  be  groundless.  Independent  of  both  parties,  wishing  to  decide  aright,  and 
anxious  only  to  serve  the  cause  of  truth  and  of  our  country,  we  cannot  con- 
sistently with  the  dictates  of  conscience,  at  the  present  stage  of  the  controversy, 
take  a  side  with  either  of  the  contending  ranks. 

"  Such  evidence  may  hereafter  be  adduced  that  General  Jackson  is  hostile  to 
the  plan  which  when  properly  modified  will,  we  think,  promote  the  welfare  of 
every  part  of  the  Union,  as  will  satisfy  us  that  the  public  good  cannot  be  ad- 
vanced by  a  change  of  the  administration.  Nor  is  it  beyond  the  bounds  of  pos- 
sibility, that  such  testimony  concerning  the  means  by  which  Mr.  Adams  came 
into  power  may  be  made  public,  as  to  render  it  our  duty  to  oppose  his  further 
continuance  in  office.  Such  being  the  state  of  the  question,  and  having  more 
than  a  year  before  us,  we  shall  await  with  patience  the  developments  of  the 
future,  without  pledging  ourselves  to  any  man  or  set  of  men.  We  shall  use  the 
prerogative  of  a  free  press,  and  utter,  with  independence,  but  with  becoming 
deference,  our  sentiments  respecting  public  men  and  public  measures.  Measures 
which  we  think  calculated  to  promote  the  public  good  we  shall  never  condemn, 
whatever  may  be  their  origin.  The  honest  acts  of  a  wise,  firm,  liberal  and  in- 
dependent government,  shall  receive  whatever  aid  our  feeble  exertions  can 
afford  them.  We  shall  conclude  this  article,  already  perhaps  too  much  ex- 
tended, by  an  enumeration  of  the  qualifications  which  in  our  humble  opinion 
should  distinguish  the  chief  magistrate  of  this  republic.  He  should  possess 
firmness  enough  to  do  what  he  knows  to  be  right.  He  should  regard  more  the 
interests  of  the  country  than  the  stability  of  his  own  power.  He  should  have 
courage  and  wisdom  to  call  to  his  assistance  the  wisest  counsellors,  and  select 
for  office  the  most  able  men  of  unsullied  integrity  within  his  reach.  The  rays 
of  executive  displeasure  should  never  be  concentrated  on  the  humble  citizen  to 
consume  and  destroy  him,  because  in  the  just  exercise  of  a  freeman's  right  he 
condemns  measures  of  doubtful  expediency.  Wasteful  expenditures  he  should 
discountenance  and  resist.  The  interests  of  every  section  of  the  country  it 
should  be  his  study  to  promote ;  nor  should  he,  to  extend  his  influence  and 
perpetuate  his  power,  patronize  measures  detrimental  to  one  portion  of 
the  Union  for  the  benefit  of  another.  In  short,  THE  COUNTRY,  THE 
WHOLE  COUNTRY  should  occupy  every  affection  and  actuate  every  measure 
of  a  President  of  the  United  States.    We  now  submit  the  matter  to  the  judg- 


Mr.  18.}  WRITING    OF   FICTION.  121 

ment  of  our  readers.  When  the  proper  time  arrives  for  us  to  choose  a  side,  we 
hope  to  be  able  to  give  satisfactory  reasons  for  the  opinions  we  may  then  main- 
tain, so  as  to  merit  the  countenance  and  support  of  just  and  impartial  men.  In 
the  mean  time,  we  will  gather  for  our  own  information,  and  lay  before  our  readers 
all  the  important  political  information  from  both  sides  which  may  have  a  proper 
bearing  upon  this  great  controversy,  in  the  full  persuasion,  that  fearless  neutral- 
ity where  both  parties  are  in  fault,  is  the  duty  of  every  Patriot. 

"  The  great  Bacon,  describing  the  qualifications  and  duties  of  a  chief 
magistrate,  declares  it  to  be  essential  that '  he  set  not  to  sale  the  seats  of  justice, 
for  that  oppresseth  the  people,' — that  inulilis  cequitas  sit  not  in  the  chancery, 
for  that  is  inepta  misericordia  ;  that  utUis  incequitas  keep  not  the  exchequer, 
for  that  is  crudele  lalrocinium ;  that  infidelis  prudentia  be  not  his  secretary, 
for  that  is  angtiis  sub  viridi  herba." 

The  last  extract  I  shall  make  from  the  Patriot,  is  the  con- 
cluding chapter  of  the  beautiful  eastern  tale  entitled,  The 
Jewess  of  Damascus.  This  is  the  best  specimen  now  extant 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  style  in  serious  oriental  fiction.  It  bears  a 
certain  resemblance  in  some  of  its  characters,  and  in  the  general 
diction,  to  Ivanhoe.  But  it  is  still  more  like  one  or  two  chap- 
ters in  the  Talisman,*  and  may  have  been  to  some  extent  a 
deliberate  imitation.  There  is  little  doubt  that  in  comprehen- 
sive force  and  grandeur  of  imagination,  and  in  fertility  of  in- 
vention, as  well  as  in  observation  of  nature  and  manners,  in 
knowledge  of  human  character,  in  genuine  healthy  passion, 
and  multifarious  though  not  exact  and  critical  learning,  and 
in  quality  of  style,  considered  as  admirably  suited  and  propor- 
tioned to  his  subjects,  Scott  has  had  no  equal  since  the  days 
of  Shakespeare.  But  of  Mr.  Alexander  it  may  be  said  that  he 
also  had  rare  gifts  of  imagination,  and  a  productive  power  of 
untold  fecundity  and  versatility  ;  and  a  knowledge  of  human 
nature  that  for  one  who  was  regarded  by  many  as  a  mere  vil- 
lage recluse  was  truly  wonderful ;  and  he  possessed  in  addition 
this  notable  advantage  over  the  wizard  of  the  North,  that  he 
was  intimately  and  even  critically  acquainted  with  the  history, 
literature,  and  tongues  of  the  lands  of  the  Syrian,  the  Persian, 
and  the  Arab,  of  which  he  wrote.     This  is  said  merely  in  the 

*  The  Tales  of  the  Crusaders  came  out  in  1823,  while  Mr.  Alexander  was  a 
Junior  in  college. 


122  JEWESS    OF   DAMASCUS.  ri827. 

way  of  introduction  to  the  concluding  passages  of  the  story 
itself,  and  to  indicate  the  opinion  that  certain  extracts  drawn 
from  the  two  writers  maybe  compared  without  serious  injury 
to  the  reputation  of  the  stripling  scholar.  Let  it  be  borne  in 
mind,  however,  that  writing  novels  and  poems  was  the  main 
business  of  Scott's  life ;  whereas  it  was  Mr.  Alexander's  occa- 
sional pastime,  and  the  pastime  of  his  younger  years  and  idlest 
hours.  The  attention  of  the  reader  is  specially  invited  to  the 
magnificent  description  of  Damascus  as  it  lay  sparkling  in  an 
oriental  sunset.  It  reminds  one  of  the  opening  paragraphs  of 
the  Talisman : 

THE  JEWESS  OF  DAMASCUS.* 

(Concluded.) 

"  The  Aga  of  the  Janissaries  paused.  The  workings  of  a  better 
spirit  were  visible  in  bis  countenance.  '  I  know  not,'  said  he,  at  last, 
'  whether  I  ougbt  to  release  you  upon  any  terms.  But  you  seem  a 
stranger ;  and  I  will  take  it  upon  myself.  You  are  free,  if  you  will 
profess  tbe  faith  in  the  presence  of  these  witnesses.  Speak  quickly, 
rise,  and  begone.'  A  sentence  of  death  could  scarcely  have  been  more 
dreadful  to  tbe  Jew  than  this  unwonted  indulgence  of  the  Turk.  '  Ah,' 
thought  be,  '  tbe  tender  mercies  of  tbe  ungodly  are  cruel.  No,  let  me 
die,  rather  than  again  abjure  tbe  covenant  of  Abraham.'  But  as  be 
formed  this  mental  resolution,  the  recollection  of  the  enchanting  pros- 
pects it  would  blast,  and  the  agony  which  his  imprisonment  might  oc- 
casion to  more  than  one  affectionate  bosom,  rushed  upon  his  soul.  He 
reverted  to  the  horrid  stories  of  long  captivity  and  dreadful  death  in 
tbe  dungeons  of  the  Turkish  Empire,  and  thought  of  the  many  chances 
against  his  ultimate  deliverance,  and  of  the  ruinous  sacrifices  by  which, 
if  obtained  at  all,  it  must  be  purchased, — his  bosom  was  rent  by  an 
agonizing  conflict. — Truth,  honour,  devotion  to  bis  God,  and  a  solemn 
pledge  to  earthly  friends,  impelled  him  to  refuse  ;  while  the  dread  of 
unknown  sufferings  and  of  certain  disappointment,  urged  him  to  obey. 
The  struggle  was  transient,  however,  though  terrific.  He  buried  bis 
face  in  bis  bands,  and  seemed  absorbed  in  prayer.  He  was,  indeed, 
beseeching  pardon  for  the  falsehood  he  had  resolved  to  utter,  and 

*  The  final  chapter  of  the  Jewess  of  Damascus  stands  next  in  the  column 
to  the  critique  on  Shelley. 


.Et.18.]  JEWESS    OF   DAMASCUS.  123 

breathing  at  the  same  time  to  Heaven  the  profession  of  Ms  true  belief. 
Then  without  raising  his  eyes,  after  several  fruitless  attempts  to  articu- 
late, he  muttered  in  Arabic  the  solemn  confession,  'There  is  no  God 
but  God,  and  Mohammed  is  his  prophet.' 

"  '  He  has  spoken  it,  Aga,'  said  a  surly  Janissary,  who  stood  directly 
by  him,  'but  we  know  not  what  he  has  muttered  to  himself  besides.' 
'  Hast  thou  confessed  the  Prophet,  Ishaak,'  said  the  Aga,  who  now  sat 
upon  his  horse  and  overlooked  the  multitude,  '  Dost  thou  acknowledge 
thyself  a  Moslem? ' 

"  It  was  only  by  a  mighty  effort  that  the  Jew  could  give  utterance 
to  the  words  'I  do.'  'Thou  art  free,'  said  the  Aga;  and  applying  to 
his  mouth  the  silver  trumpet  which  was  suspended  at  his  saddle-bow, 
he  gave  a  single  blast,  and  turned  his  horse's  head  in  the  direction  of 
the  castle.  The  Janissaries  gathered  around  their  leader,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  the  distant  sound  of  their  horses'  feet  had  wholly  died  away. 

"Never,  perhaps,  did  a  release  from  danger  occasion  so  little  satis- 
faction. Ishaak  now  reflected  that  he  had  violated  his  duty  to  heaven, 
broken  his  pledge  to  his  dearest  friends,  and  abjured  the  religion  of  his 
fathers.  He  was  wholly  unable  to  rise  from  his  knees  till  the  last  of 
the  spectators  who  had  remained  to  pity  and  insult  him,  grew  w7eary 
and  departed.  At  last,  when  the  crowd  seemed  finally  dispersed,  he 
arose  slowly  from  the  earth.  But  when  he  lifted  his  eyes  he  remained 
petrified  and  aghast.  In  the  middle  of  the  street  stood  a  camel  bearing 
on  its  back  a  litter  of  that  description  used  in  journeys  by  eastern  fe- 
males of  superior  rank.  The  curtains  of  this  litter  were  withdrawn, 
and  within,  the  astonished  Jew  beheld  unveiled  and  fixed  upon  him  the 
countenance  of  Miriam.  Grief,  anger  and  amazement  beamed  from  her 
kindled  eye,  and  contempt  sat  quivering  on  her  lip.  As  her  look  met 
his,  she  dropped  her  veil,  the  curtains  were  hastily  closed,  and  the 
camel  proceeded  on  his  journey. 

u  The  emotions  of  the  Jew  at  this  unexpected  sight  would  defy  any 
attempt  at  description.  An  hour  or  two  passed  by,  during  which  he 
remained  in  a  state  of  torpid  frenzy.  He  was  wholly  insensible  of 
present  objects,  and  without  a  distinct  recollection  of  the  past.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  he  found  himself  again  before  the  door  of  Asher  Zid- 
dim.  Again  he  kissed  the  threshold,  and  again  gave  the  signal  for  ad- 
mission. The  door  was  opened  cautiously  as  before,  and  by  the  same 
grave  domestic  ;  but  the  visitor  was  not  received  with  the  same  cordial 
and  respectful  welcome.  The  servant  came  out  to  receive  hi?  com-» 
mands,  and  gave  him  no  invitation  to  come  in.  Ishaak  mechanically 
named  his  master.     '  He  seeth  no  one  to  day,'    Ishaak  muttered  some 


124  JEWESS    OF    DAMASCUS.  [1827. 

incoherent  questions  respecting  Miriam,  and  her  journey  to  Sidon. — 
'  The  damsel  goeth  not  forth  to  Sidon,'  was  the  laconic  answer,  and  the 
frantic  Ishaak  departed  in  despair. 

"It  was  suDset — a  glorious  hour  in  that  land  of  unclouded  skies — 
when  a  traveller  journeying  towards  the  sea,  paused  to  look  back  upon 
Damascus.  It  was  the  same  stranger  who  had  surveyed  the  landscape 
when  glistening  in  the  freshness  of  the  morning.  But  the  man  seemed 
not  the  same.  The  lofty  hearing  of  his  front  and  the  proud  glance  of 
his  eye  were  exchanged  for  the  contraction  of  inward  pain  and  the  fit- 
ful gleam  of  terror  and  conscious  guilt.  He  gazed  long  in  silence  on 
the  city  as  it  lay  gilded  by  the  parting  rays  of  a  rich  autumnal  sunset. 
The  splendour  reflected  from  its  domes  and  spires,  though  less  dazzling 
than  that  which  appeared  in  a  morning  view,  was  more  beautiful  and 
chastened.  Instead  of  the  unvaried  golden  tint  which  then  overspread 
the  scene,  the  different  objects  now  displayed  an  endless  variety  of 
hues.  Over  one  was  spread  a  colouring  of  purple.  Another  was 
arrayed  in  a  robe  of  fiery  red ;  while  the  highest  points  in  the  view, 
the  pinnacles  and  spires,  were  still  gleaming  in  the  simple  brightness 
of  unmingled  sunshine. 

"  '  Thou  art  still  beautiful,'  said  Ishaak,  '  but  the  glory  in  my  eyes 
has  departed.  I  look  upon  thy  palaces,  but  I  no  longer  covet  them  : 
I  survey  thy  groves  and  vineyards,  but  I  desire  them  not.  Thou  hast 
been  to  me  a  blasting  and  a  curse,  and  now  thou  smilest  in  thy  scorn 
upon  him  whose  peace  thou  hast  destroyed.' 

"  He  turned  aside  to  a  fresh  and  sparkling  fountain  which  threw  up  ita 
liquid  columns  from  a  marble  basin  in  a  neighbouring  enclosure  ;  and 
having  bathed  his  throbbing  head  in  its  crystal  waters,  bade  farewell 
forever  to  Damascus,  and  journeyed  on. 

"  There  are  few  spirits  so  exempt  from  the  debasing  imperfections  of 
humanity  as  to  endure  the  severing  of  ties  which  once  seemed  inter- 
woven with  the  heart-strings,  and  still  retain  perfect  equanimity  of 
feeling.  If  there  is  any  principle  in  action  among  men  which  can 
accomplish  this  in  even  a  moderate  degree,  it  is  the  principle  of  re- 
ligion. It  is  such  a  sense  of  devotion  to  the  service  of  heaven  as  makes 
its  subject  forget  and  undervalue  the  affections  and  associations  of 
earth.  Yet  even  this  principle,  all-powerful  as  it  is,  has  seldom  the 
effect  of  producing  entire  oblivion  or  indifference.  This  was  sensibly 
felt  by  Father  Isaac,  the  revered  and  holy  monk  of  the  Convent  of 

St. .     He  had  long   since  renounced   the   obstinate  unbelief  of 

Judaism.  His  heart  had  been  subdued  by  the  energy  of  grace,  and  his 
understanding  had  bowed  to  the   omnipotence  of  truth.      He   had 


«fflT.l&]  JEWESS   OP   DAMASCUS.  125 

retired  to  the  duties  and  enjoyments  of  monastic  seclusion,  and 
by  the  holiness  of  his  life  and  the  warmth  of  his  benevolence  had 
gained  the  reverence  of  his  order  and  the  grateful  affection  of  the  poor. 
Yet  there  were  times  when,  in  spite  of  all  his  efforts  to  suppress  it,  the 
memory  of  former  days  would  rise  upon  his  view.  His  sins  and  follies 
he  voluntarily  recalled  as  subjects  of  repentance  and  self-abasement 
before  God.  But  with  them  there  oflen  came  inseparably  mingled 
images  of  joy  and  pleasure  which  he  would  gladly  have  forgotten. 
Among  these,  there  was  a  dream-like  form  which  though  sedulously 
excluded  from  his  waking  thoughts  would  often  flit  across  his  mind 
amidst  the  airy  pageant  of  some  delightful  vision.  He  tried  to  look 
upon  it  as  an  angel ;  but  memory  and  conscience  whispered  that  it  was 
a  woman. 

"The  summer  of  18 —  brought  an  influx  of  Jewish  refugees  to  the 
city  of  Genoa.  Among  the  rest  were  a  considerable  number  of  exiles 
from  Damascus.  The  oppressions  of  the  Moslem  had  become  intolerable, 
and  even  the  venerable  Asher  Ziddim,  though  far  beyond  the  appointed 
goal  of  threescore  years  and  ten,  chose  rather  to  brave  the  danger  of  a 
boisterous  voyage  and  become  in  his  old  age  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land, 
than  to  endure  contempt  and  suffer  persecution  in  the  contaminated 
city  of  his  fathers.  His  daughter  dung  to  his  side.  They  were  all  to 
each  other.  She  renounced  every  other  association  to  be  the  solace  and 
companion  of  her  aged  parent;  while  he  had  made  it  the  object  of  all 
his  efforts  and  designs  to  create  and  preserve  the  happiness  of  his  only 
child.     The  arrival  of  these  emigrants  was  not  long  a  secret,  even  in 

the  cloisters  of  St. .     The  monks  in  succession  visited  the  city  to 

labour  for  the  conversion  of  these  unbelieving  strangers.  Yet  there 
was  one  who  steadily  refused  to  aid  in  this  pious  enterprise — and, 
strange  to  tell,  that  one  was  the  most  revered  and  loved  for  piety, 
benevolence,  and  zeal,  the  self-denying,  devoted  Father  Isaac. 

"  Weeks  and  months  rolled  by,  and  each  as  it  passed  brought  tidings 
of  the  humanity  and  kindness  of  the  devoted  Damascenes.  The  aged 
Asher  had  fortunately  rescued  a  large  proportion  of  his  riches,  which 
by  the  hands  of  his  daughter,  at  once  his  almoner  and  steward,  were 
freely  dispensed  to  feed  the  bowels  of  the  poor.  The  name  of  Miriam, 
unbeliever  as  she  was,  soon  furnished  a  theme  of  eulogy  to  every 
tongue ;  and  it  became  at  last  a  current  saying  among  those  who  fed 
upon  her  bounty,  that  the  balance  of  Justice  would  make  no  distinction 
between  the  good  works  of  Isaac  the  Christian  monk,  and  of  Miriam 
the  Jewess  of  Damascus." 

This  tale,  like  the  panegyric  of  the  Persian  Poets,  is  printed 


126  THE    EMPORIUM.  H327. 

under  the  signature  of  AIL  The  indulgent  reader  will  not 
forget  that  it  was  written  hurriedly  for  the  columns  of  a  vil- 
lage newspaper.  It  appears  to  have  been  modelled  in  some 
degree,  as  regards  its  form,  after  the  ingenious  romances 
which  were  already  beginning  to  fill  the  pages  of  the  English 
periodicals.  It  would  have  been  read  with  interest  had  it 
appeared  in  Maga.  It  is  thought  by  some  that  this  story 
would  not  have  done  discredit  to  John  Wilson,  or  to  Lock- 
hart,  on  the  score  of  imagination  and  diction,  while  it  is 
doubted  whether  either  of  these  could  have  more  successfully 
preserved  the  oriental,  and  yet  modern,  vraisemblance. 

But  the  New  Jersey  Patriot  was  not  the  only  sheet  to 
which  Mr.  Alexander  was  contributing  these  fugitive  essays. 
He  was  also  writing  frequently,  if  not  so  constantly,  for  a 
journal  known  as  the  "  Emporium."  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
most  of  his  communications  in  that  quarter  have  been  lost. 

The  Emporium  was  also  a  weekly  paper,  and  was  published 
in  the  city  of  Trenton,  then  as  still  the  capital  of  the  State.  It 
was  first  of  a  literary  and  miscellaneous  character,  but  after- 
wards became  the  leading  Democratic  organ  in  New  Jersey. 
It  was  established,  published,  printed,  and  edited,  by  Joseph 
Justice  and  Stacy  G.  Potts,  under  the  firm  of  Justice  &  Potts. 
Mr.  Potts,  then  a  young  printer,  afterwards  became  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  and  a  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New- Jersey. 
He  was  in  later  years  a  gentleman  of  much  dignity  and  suavity 
of  manners,  and  of  most  agreeable  social  qualities,  and  withal 
a  person  of  the  highest  probity  and  excellence  of  character. 
For  this  journal  Mr.  Alexander  wrote  copiously  while  in  col- 
lege, and  after  graduation  published  much  which  cannot  now 
be  recovered.* 

It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  all  this  was  the  merest 
diversion.  This  tide  of  matter  for  the  newspapers  was  wholly 
produced,  one  may  say,  while  the  other  young  men  about 
Princeton  were  engaged  in  their  walks  and  talks,  were  visiting 

*  A  gentleman  who  has  kindly  examined  the  files  of  this  paper  for  the  pe- 
riod in  question,  assures  me  that  there  are  pieces  which  "  read  like  him,"  but 
he  is  unable  to  identify  any  of  them. 


,Et.18.]  estimate   OF   TIME.  127 

their  sweethearts,  or  were  playing  ball  in  the  college  campus. 
He  too,  it  must  be  admitted,  was  at  this  time  somewhat  fond 
of  walking,  and  would  occasionally  take  a  cheerful  stroll,  as  we 
have  seen,  with  his  friends  Mr.  King  or  Mr.  Napton.  It  was 
observed,  however,  that  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Boiling's, 
he  seldom  entered  a  friend's  room  between  recitations,  or  be- 
fore the  hour  for  college  prayers,  a  degree  of  abstinence  which 
was  considered  a  sign  of  great  self-denial  in  an  undergraduate  ; 
nor  did  he  usually  encourage  his  fellow-students  to  visit  him 
at  his  own  home.  This  we  may  be  persuaded  was  from  nc 
lack  of  hospitality  on  his  part,  and  I  have  never  heard  that  it 
gave  any  offence  ;  but  simply  from  a  recluse  habit  already 
formed,  and  a  passion  for  saving  not  only  the  precious  ingots 
but  even  the  golden  dust  and  filings  of  time.  He  was  remark- 
able for  this  peculiarity  through  life.  lie  would  rush  from 
the  breakfast  table  to  his  study  as  if  an  enemy  were  pursuing 
him,  and  slam  the  door  as  if  he  was  angry :  but  the  next  mo- 
ment he  would  be  heard  murmuring  in  an  earnest  rapid  tone 
as  he  bent  over  the  open  books  that  covered  his  table.  He 
also  had  a  habit  at  times  of  snapping  his  eyes,  as  if  involunta- 
rily, perhaps  unconsciously  ;  first  one  and  then  after  an  inter- 
val the  other ;  in  a  manner  curious  to  behold,  but  which  it 
would  not  be  easy  to  describe.  The  movement  did  not  dis- 
tort, but  gave  a  kind  of  pleasing  sparkle  to  his  face.  The  gen- 
tleman who  sat  next  to  him  at  Baird's  Academy  says  he  was 
even  then  the  admiration  and  despair  of  the  school ;  that  his 
cheek  was  ruddy  and  his  eye  sparkling ;  that  he  was  never 
known  to  make  a  mistake  or  a  blunder  in  his  recitations,  or  to 
fail  to  arrive  at  a  perfect  demonstration  at  the  blackboard, 
and  that  no  one  ever  saw  him  hesitate  for  a  word.  The  im- 
pression of  this  gentleman  was  that  "  Addison  could  see 
through  anything  at  a  glance ;  that  he  could  not  help  solving 
his  problems,  if  he  tried."  At  the  time  of  which  I  am  now 
speaking,  the  year  after  he  took  his  Bachelor's  degree,  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  was  much  changed  in  his  appearance  or 
characteristics  and  habits ;  except  that  he  was  visibly  a  little 
older,  somewhat  more  sedate,  more  fully  grown,  and  with  a 


12S 


READING    HOMER. 


I182T. 


greater  breadth  of  knowledge,  cultivation,  and  experience  of 
life.  He  was  still,  like  the  minstrel- wai'riour  of  Bethlehem 
Judah,  "ruddy  and  withal  of  a  beautiful  countenance,  and 
goodly  to  look  to."  Strange  as  it  may  seem,  notwithstanding 
his  reserve  and  bashfulness  (for  though  the  word  bashfulness 
does  not  pi-ecisely  express  the  shade  of  meaning  intended,  it 
is  the  only  one  except  shyness  that  even  verges  towards  a 
just  description)  and  his  solitary  ways,  he  was  among  those 
who  knew  him  well  exceedingly  popular.  He  was  so  modest 
and  unassuming  that  no  one  envied  him  Lis  growing  honours. 
His  compeers  gloried  in  his  successes  as  successes  of  the 
Academy,  of  the  College,  and  of  Whig  Hall.  He  was  not 
one  of  those  who  seem  born  to  be  admired  and  hated ;  but 
one  of  those  who  though  named  only  to  be  praised  are  known 
only  to  be  loved. 

One  of  the  very  few  records  of  Mr.  Alexander's  literary 
occupations  at  this  time  is  furnished  in  the  following  statement 
with  reference  to  the  dates  at  which  he  finished  the  several 
books  of  Homer's  Odyssey  in  Greek.  He  read  it  in  the  folio 
of  Spondanus,  Basle,  1533,  the  same  copy  which  was  after- 
wards perused  by  his  brother  James.  He  marked  at  the  end 
of  every  book  the  time  of  his  getting  through  it,  and  with  the 
result  exhibited  in  the  annexed  table : 


No.  of  Book. 

No.  of  Book. 

I. 

January 

22,         1827.               XIII. 

February 

10, 

1827. 

II. 

u 

23,             ' 

XIV. 

u 

19, 

u 

III. 

(t 

24, 

'                   XV. 

u 

21, 

u 

IV. 

(i 

26, 

'                  XVI. 

K 

27, 

M 

V. 

<( 

29, 

'            xvn. 

March 

6, 

(I 

VI. 

a 

30,             ' 

xvin. 

u 

V, 

It 

VII. 

February  1,            ' 

4                   XIX. 

u 

8, 

u 

VIII. 

it 

1, 

1                   XX. 

u 

9, 

11 

IX. 

n 

6, 

'                  XXI. 

u 

10, 

(1 

X. 

u 

v, 

1           xxn. 

u 

12, 

u 

XI. 

n 

8, 

XXIII. 

11 

12, 

(1 

xn. 

it 

8, 

XXIV. 

u 

13, 

it 

I  give  here  a  letter  which  evidently,  from  its  handwriting, 


Mr.  18. J  EARLY    LETTER.  129 

belongs  to  an  early  period  of  his  life.     It  would  not  be  recog- 
nized as  his  by  those  who  were  familiar  only  with  his  manu- 
script of  a  later  day.     The  only  date  upon  it   is  the   month, 
September.     The  internal  evidence  corresponds  perfectly  with 
the  external,  in  pointing  to  a  period  anterior  to  the  time  when 
his  writing  became  round  and  elegant.     There  is  a  greater 
freedom   and    elasticity  of  style  than  he  permitted  himself 
afterwards.     It  was  addressed  to  his  brother  James  in  Vir- 
ginia and  at  Charlotte  Court-House.     Now  his  brother  James 
went  to  Virginia  in  1826  and  returned  in  1S28,  and  did  not 
revisit    his    old    home   in    Charlotte   till    several    years   had 
elapsed.     Moreover,  the  allusion  in  the  letter  to  "  a  journey 
northward"  is  in  such  terms  as  necessarily  imply  a  residence 
in  the  South,  and  not  a  mere  visit  to  that  region.     This  is  fur- 
ther presupposed  in  the  reference  to  a  previous  correspondence 
between  the  brothers.      The  mention  of  the  elder  brother's 
sickness,  seems  to  fix  the  time  as  towards  the  close  of  his  two 
years'  sojourn  in  his  native  state.     The  repeated  calling  in  of 
the  name  of  Mr.  Patton  might  seem  to  indicate  the  time  the 
younger  brother  was  that  gentleman's  assistant  at  Edgehill ; 
but  this  was  not  till  November  of  the  year  following  the  elder 
brother's  return  to  the  North.     We  are  thus  shut  up  to  three 
years,  1826,  1827,  and  182S.     In  the   autumn  of  one  of  these 
years  the  letter  was  written.     There  are   some  things  which 
might  make  one  incline  towards  1S28.     The  letter  shows  him 
at  work  upon  the  Pentateuch.      So  does  the  journal  for  the 
winter  of '28.     The  letter  speaks  of  the  recent  completion  of  a 
poem  entitled  the  "  Tears  of  Esau,"  and  the  jommal  discloses 
the  fact  that  he  wrote  off  this  poem  for  the  columns  of  the 
monthly  magazine  on  the  12th  of  January  of  that  year.     It  is 
not  necessarily  implied,  however,  that  he  composed  it  then. 
It  is  more  probable  that  he  copied  it.     Besides,  I  find  from 
his  diary  that  on  the  3d  of  January  1828,  he  wTas  already  deep 
in  Exodus,  whereas  this  letter  though   making  copious  refer- 
ences to  the  book  of  Genesis,  makes  no  mention  of  any  of  the 
later  books.     Then  again,  in  the  letter  he  has  a  daily  task  of 
four  languages;  in  the  journal  (unless  his  practice  in  the  latter 
6*  ' 


130  WHEN    "WRITTEN.  [1827. 

part  of  tbS  year  differed  from  that  in  the  earlier),  of  five,  six, 
and  sometimes  seven  :  in  the  letter  he  has  just  mastered  the 
forms  of  Spanish  grammar,  and  has  merely  sent  for  Don 
Quixotte  ;  in  the  journal  for  Jan.  1828  he  already  has  a  daily 
task  in  Don  Quixotte.  This  I  think  makes  it  certain  that  the 
letter  was  not  written  in  1828.  It  could  hardly  have  been 
written  in  1826,  which  was  the  year  he  was  graduated.  The 
little  matters  of  Princeton  news  in  the  letter  direct  our  view 
to  the  succeeding  year.  A  minute  comparison  of  the  letter 
with  the  journal  renders  this  conclusion  almost  sure.  I  shall 
therefore  assume  that  in  September  .1827,  the  young  scholar 
was  pursuing  the  study  of  Hebrew,  Arabic,  and  Italian,  and 
had  just  possessed  himself  of  the  rudiments  of  Spanish.  He 
at  this  time  scorned  chrestomathies,  and  collectanea  such  as 
Dalzell's.  He  thought  the  best  way  of  mastering  a  new  lan- 
guage was  to  open  a  great  classic  and  go  through  it  from 
cover  to  cover  with  the  forms,  the  rules,  and  the  lexicon.  It 
was  doubtless  the  best  way  for  him.  He  had  the  knack  of 
penetrating  the  secret  of  a  mass  of  foreign  idioms  at  a  glance, 
and  of  moving  on  at  once  to  the  subjugation  of  the  literature. 
The  literature  was  his  main  quarry  after  all.  In  Hebrew,  he 
was  now  poring  over  the  sublime  aud  inspired  words  of 
Closes.  In  Arabic  he  put  himself  under  the  guidance  of 
Mohammed  ;  in  Persian,  of  Sadi  and  Hafiz  ;  in  Italian,  which 
he  was  merely  commencing,  of  Tasso.  He  soon  after  took  up 
Cervantes,  Ariosto  and  Dante. 

The  letter  about  to  be  given  has  a  laughable  mixture  of 
the  boy  and  the  man  in  it.  It  is  written  with  all  the  reckless 
ease  of  a  youthful  correspondence  with  a  cherished  brother. 
Yet  the  writer  never  in  his  life  threw  out  more  sagacious  hints 
on  the  subject  of  philology,  and  never  wrote  better  or  more 
playfully  on  the  defects  of  current  English  style ;  and  he 
never  expressed  himself  with  more  knowledge  or  a  more 
pathetic  tenderness  in  the  way  of  criticism  on  the  original 
Scriptures,  regarded  as  a  branch,  and  a  most  imposing  one,  of 
universal  belles  lettres.  The  critique  on  the  Koran,  that 
"  bantling   of   Mohammed,"  is    evidently  the    germ  of   the 


iEr.l8.j  ADMIRATION    OF    HEBREW.  131 

larger  and  later  one  in  the  Repertory.  It  is  at  once  shrewd, 
subtle  and  humorous.  As  a  whole  the  reader  will  find  this 
learned,  elegant,  discriminating,  free  and  easy,  bantering  effu- 
sion, as  well  worth  reading  as  any  of  his  similar  productions 
in  after  years.  It  is  very  precious  in  a  biographical  point  of 
view,  as  a  fragment  of  records  which  have  long  since  perished. 

"  Dear  James, 

"  The  manner  in  which  you  speak  of  a  journey  northward  has  en- 
couraged us  all  to  conceive  a  hope  which  you  must  take  care  not  to  dis- 
appoint.    Meantime,  let  us  have  a  little  converse  de  omnibus  rebus  &c. 

"  I  believe  you  have  received  no  letter  from  me  since  the  receipt  of 
your  philological  mammoth.  Cordially  as  I  concurred  in  the  senti- 
ments which  you  there  expressed,  I  thought  it  advisable  to  make 
allowances  for  the  evanescent  nature  of  violent  emotions  and  not  echo 
your  rhapsodies  till  I  was  sure  that  they  were  likely  to  continue.  The 
absence  of  philology  in  your  subsequent  epistles  is,  I  suppose,  to  be 
ascribed  to  sickness.  I  trust  you  have  not  lost  the  noble  enthusiasm. 
I  am  studying  as  a  daily  task  four  languages.  In  Hebrew,  I  read  the 
Pentateuch;  in  Arabic,  the  Koran;  in  Persian,  Hafiz  and  Sadi ;  in 
Italian.  Tasso.  You  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn,  that  my  admiration 
of  Hebrew  grows  continually.  The  exquisite  and  to  me  wonderful 
combination  of  primitive  simplicity,  and  philosophical  exactness  in  that 
mysterious  tongue  are  without  a  parallel.  The  further  I  advance  in 
the  knowledge  of  it  and  its  offspring  Arabic,  the  more  I  am  struck  with 
the  indications  which  present  themselves,  of  their  structure  having  been 
the  result  of  elaborate  research  and  subtle  contrivance,  and  yet  tlio 
simplicity  which  I  have  mentioned  is  so  obvious  and  unequivocal  as  to 
preclude  all  hypotheses  that  might  otherwise  be  formed.  I  am  perfectly 
sincere  when  I  assert  that  in  every  respect,  the  book  of  Genesis  appears 
to  me  the  finest  specimen  of  historical  composition  that  was  ever  pro- 
duced. I  never  thought  so  when  I  read  it  in  English,  though  I  must 
add,  that  the  fidelity  of  our  version  is  far  greater  than  I  had  ever  con- 
ceived to  be  possible.  The  translation  which  comes  nearest  to  it  in 
this  respect  is  Sale's  Koran,  but  ala?,  longo  intervallo.  The  reason  of 
his  inferiority  is  to  be  found  in  the  character  of  the  Koran  itself;  for  I 
do  declare,  that  of  all  the  ridiculous  exhibitions  of  ignorance,  folly,  and  I 
stupidity  that  ever  saw  the  light,  this  bantling  of  Mohammed  (even  in 
its  original  swaddling  clothes)  is  the  most  absurd.  The  only,  thing  to 
recommend  it,  is  the  number  of  ethical  truths  which  it  contains  well 
expressed  ;   and  occasional  ebullitions  of  a  fervid  imagination  in  the 


132  ITALIAN    AND    SPANISH    STUDIES.  [1S2T. 

way  of  description  and  apostrophe  which  no  style  nor  subject  can 
wholly  suppress  in  the  work  of  an  Oriental  writer.  To  return  a 
minute  to  Genesis — how  often  have  you  ever  read  the  27th  chapter  in 
the  original  ?  It  is  beyond  praise  as  a  touching  narrative  ;  and  nothing 
can  be  more  pathetic  than  the  point  to  which  the  story  is  brought  in 
the  38th  verse. 

6«8*i  -ax  13X-C3  13m a  i^x  r.^-xin   nnx  nmsn  •pix-'bx  i"ws  n»K*i 

t  •  -  •    t         *   t  -        •••*■:  t  •    t  1  ;  •  —  -  t   t  *:    -  •    r  v  t  ••  - 

:  ^a*i  iVp  ibs 

"I  was  so  struck  by  the  pathos  of  the  story  on  a  recent  perusal  that 
I  threw  it  impromptu  into  very  blank  verse,  which  you  will  see  in  the 
Patriot.     (By  the  bye  send  us  some  poetry.) 

"  I  am  reading  Tasso  with  great  delight.  It  is  surprising  with  what 
graceful  unconstrained  ease  his  thoughts  succeed  each  otlier  notwith- 
standing the  awkward  restraint  to  which  the  ottara  rima  subjected 
him.  The  Italian,  through  its  characteristic  softness,  seems  admirably 
adapted  to  make  the  sound  an  echo  to  the  sense.  You  know  the  verse 
which  Blair  quotes  descriptive  of  the  effects  of  a  trumpet  blown  in  the 
lower  regions  where  tromba,  rimbomba,  piomba  and  similar  words  are 
admirably  expressive.  Mr.  Patton  says  that  no  ancient  or  modern  lan- 
guage is  more  rich  in  words  descriptive  of  delicate  and  varying  emo- 
tions, especially  those  of  love.  The  following  couplet  by  Tasso  I  have 
adopted  as  a  valuable  apothegm  : 

" '  L'aspettar  del  male  e  mal  peggiore, 
Forge,  che  non  parebbe  il  mal  presente.' 

I  have  mastered  the  form3  of  Spanish  grammar  completely  ;  and  have 
just  sent  to  Philadelphia  for  Don  Quixote.  M.  Coulombe,  a  man  edu- 
cated under  the  auspices  of  Napoleon  and  possessed  of  considerable 
learning,  has  established  himself  in  Princeton.  He  teaches  French ; 
and  proposes  to  open  a  German  school.  Mr.  Patton  speaks  well  of  him. 
As  writing  to  you  is  tbe  only  vent  which  I  find  for  my  speculations  on 
literature,  I  will  set  down  two  or  three  questions  for  your  considera- 
tion. 1.  Is  not  the  imperative  mood  the  root  of  the  verb  in  all  lan- 
guages; i.  e.,  Do  you  not  suppose  the  first  verb  was  used  imperatively 
or  oratively  (ut  ita  d.),  and  that  it  will  be  found  in  a  majority  of  the 
diverse  tongues  that  this  is  the  simplest  form?  Love — to  love — I  love. 
It  is  the  only  simple  part  of  the  English  verb.  2.  Ought  not  all  col- 
lectanea on  DalzelFs  plan  to  be  relentlessly  proscribed  ?  They  have 
hurt  me  exceedingly.  3.  Ought  not  the  republic  of  letters  to  pass  an 
act  abolishing  punctuation  ?     Keep  the  period  and  the  mark  of  interro- 


Mr.  18.]  TEARS    OF    ESAU.  133 

gation  ;  but  let  the  ivst  go  hang.     I  am  glad  to  see  you  disapprove  the 

dash.     I  loathe  it  as  it  is  used  by ,  e.  g. :   '  This  work — and  we 

wish  we  could  say  other  works — came  forth,'  &c.  No  such  form  of  a 
sentence  should  be  tolerated.  Dr.  Johnson  never  used  even  a  paren- 
thesis. There  is  little  news  stirring.  The  family  are  well.  *  *  *  * 
"William  sends  you  the  Report  of  the  Colonization  Society,  and  wishes 
you  to  read  Vroom's  address  and  give  your  opinion. 

"  Yours  ever, 

"A." 

I  have  been  so  successful  as  to  find  the  poem  referred  to  in 
this  letter,  in  an  old  brown  fragment  of  the  newspaper  in  which 
it  originally  appeared.  The  jiieca  had  been  carefully  hoarded 
by  one  of  the  author's  playmates  and  oldest  admirers.  It  pos- 
sesses a  high  dramatic  and  exegetical  interest,  and  is  unlike 
anything  else  from  Mr.  Alexander's  pen.  It  will  be  remarked 
that  notwithstanding  the  protest  in  the  letter  to  his  brother 
he  has  not  discarded  the  dash  or  the  parenthesis.  The  piece 
sheds  some  light,  too,  on  his  own  character.  He  too  was  one 
day  to  be  seen  in  tears  and  helplessness — "his  mighty  frame" 
also  "shuddering  in  anguish";  and  was  to  excite  a  similar 
surprise.  He  too  "  loved  not  to  be  scanned  so  searchingly." 
It  had  been  too  long  and  injuriously  thought  of  him  that 
';from  an  eye  so  hard,  so  diamond-like,  infusible,  though 
bright,  the  kindly  drops  of  pity,  love,  or  grief,  ne'er  found  a 
vent."  "  Yet  have  I  seen  him  weep  *  *  *  and  heard  him 
cry  aloud  in  sorrow,  as  a  child." 

The  difference  was  this,  Esau  was  really  hard-hearted ; 
but  Addison  Alexander,  with  all  his  force  and  brilliancy  of 
character,  had  also  the  gentleness  and  softness  of  a  girl. 

THE  TEAES  OE  ESAU. 

[From   an  unpublished  Drama.'] 

Genesis,  xxvii :  30 — 41. 

Mark  yon  tall  chief  returning  from  the  chase : 
Canst  thou  not  read  in  that  deep  wrinkled  brow, 
That  quivering  lip,  that  fiercely  flashing  eye, 
The  mingled  characters  of  smothered  grief 


134  TEARS    OP    ESAU.  [1827 

And  rankling  discontent  ?     Thou  readest  well. 

'Tis  Esau,  first-born  of  the  ancient  Isaac, 

And  monarch  of  the  chase.     There !  did'st  thou  see 

The  sudden  gleam  his  eye  shot  forth  upon  us  ? 

Approach  him  not  too  nearly :  drop  thine  eyes  : 

He  loves  not  to  be  scanned  so  searchingly. 

Yet  men  have  guessed  in  vain  what  hidden  crime 

Preys  on  his  soul,  and  makes  his  eye  a  coward. 

The  story  which  thou  readest  in  his  aspect 

Is  written  in  the  process  of  his  life, 

And  stamped  on  all  his  deeds.     Proud,  fearless,  fierce, 

Relentless — ever  mindful  of  his  wrongs, 

Forgetful  of  the  kindness  which  repays  them. 

Who  would  not  say  that  from  an  eye  so  hard, 

So  diamond-like,  infusible,  though  bright, 

The  kindly  drops  of  pity,  love,  or  grief, 

Ne'er  found  a  vent !     Yet  have  I  seen  him  weep, 

Ay,  seen  him  weep,  and  heard  him  cry  aloud 

In  sorrow,  as  a  child.     'Twas  on  that  day, 

When  Jacob — but  you  know  the  tale  of  old. 

Ah,  Arioch  !  'twas  a  sight  to  chill  the  blood, 

I  scarce  believed  it ;  though  I  stood  in  service 

Upon  the  dying  bed  of  Isaac.     There 

The  rugged  hunter  knelt,  and  when  he  heard — 

The  savoury  food  still  smoking  in  his  hand, 

And  gently  offered  to  his  father's  taste — 

Yes,  when  he  heard  the  old  man's  faltering  tongue 

In  broken  accents  tell  the  treachery ; 

And  saw  those  sightless  eyes,  with  bursting  tears 

Of  agony  distended  ;  and  that  hand, 

That  withered  hand,  whose  hallowed  imposition 

Had  laid  on  Jacob's  head  the  promised  blessing — 

When  its  cold  trembling  touch,  reminded  him 

Of  all  that  he  had  lost — what  did  he  then? 

I  stood  in  staring  terror  to  behold 

The  wild  and  fearful  bursting  of  his  wrath 

Come  forth  in  frenzied  action  :  but  it  came  not ; 

I  looked  again  :  for  how  could  I  believe, 

That  Esau,  the  fierce  hunter — that  the  Esau, 

Whom  I  had  known  so  terrible  in  anger, 

Should  bear  his  griefs  thus  meekly  ?     When  I  looked, 

His  head  was  bowed  upon  his  father's  hand. 

His  own  concealed  his  face ;  his  mighty  frame 


JSt.18.]  MONTHLY    MAGAZINE.  135 

Was  shuddering  in  anguish  :  but  anon, 

Between  his  fingers,  drop  by  drop  I  marked 

The  scalding  tears  were  oozing,  and  I  heard 

Those  strong  convulsive  sobs,  which  more  than  tears 

Betray  a  marts  proud  grief.     I  could  have  wept 

To  see  him  humbled  thus.     The  gentler  Jacob 

Might  weep,  and  who  would  mark  it  ?     'Tis  his  nature. 

But  to  see  tears  upon  the  manlier  cheek 

Of  rugged  Esau — 'twas  a  moving  sight. 

Long  did  he  weep  in  silence,  but  at  last 

There  came  from  him  a  wild  and  bitter  cry, 

And  then  in  deep  and  hollow  tones  he  said, 

"  Hast  thou  for  me  no  blessing,  0  my  father  !  " 

What  could  the  old  man  say  ?     Before  him  knelt 

The  eldest  born — his  best  beloved  son, 

Him  whom  he  would  have  blessed,  but  for  the  arts 

Of  Jacob  and  his  mother.     Once  again, 

He  murmured  forth  "  thy  brother — 'twas  thy  brother." 

Again  wept  Esau,  and  again  he  asked, 

"  Hast  thou  reserved  no  blessing  for  thy  son  ? 

Thine  Esau,  Oh  my  father  !  "     Then  once  more 

The  biting,  blasting  thought,  that  he  had  lost 

That  mystic  benediction,  by  whose  virtue, 

The  favour  of  Jehovah  seemed  ensured, 

Kose  on  his  mind  ;  and  as  it  rose  he  cried 

In  bitterness  of  soul.     But  with  that  cry, 

His  weakness  ended,  and  his  agony 

Passed  from  him  as  a  dream.     Across  his  brow, 

He  drew  his  hand  impatiently,  then  sprang, 

As  if  in  anger,  to  his  feet.     His  eyes, 

No  longer  bathed  in  grief,  were  fired  with  rage ; 

And  on  his  quivering  lip  there  seemed  to  hang, 

Unutterable  things.     The  child  was  gone, 

And  vencreful  Esau  was  himself  aj;ain. 

°  °  ALL 

During  the  year  1828  in  the  intervals  of  study  he  was  also 
a  frequent  writer  for  the  "Philadelphia  Monthly  Magazine," 
edited  by  Dr.  Isaac  C.  Snowden.*  Some  of  these  contributions 
were  in  verse.  The  world  of  romantic  literature,  and  es- 
pecially poetry,  and  the  world  of  severe  scholarship,  seemed 
now  to  press  their  conflcting  claims  upon  him.  lie  may  be 
thought  to  have  stood  for  a  moment  as  if  irresolute,  like  Gar- 


13G  WRITING    VERSES.  [1823 

rick  "between  tragedy  and  comedy,  or  like  the  hero  in  the 
Choice  of  Hercules.*  Judge  Napton  assures  us  that  his  friend 
was  certain  of  success,  if  he  had  chosen  to  enter  the  domain 
of  fiction.  He  probably  never  dreamed  of  this,  but  he  had  a 
strong  yearning  towards  the  poetic  muse.  There  is  no  evi- 
dence, however,  that  he  ever  gravely  meditated  the  pursuits 
of  mere  literature.  The  real  conflict  in  his  mind  was  between 
Arabia  and  America,  the  Orient  and  the  Occident ;  and,  at  a 
later  day,  between  the  law  and  theology.  His  efforts  in  verse 
were  merely  for  the  sake  of  mental  diversion,  or  to  please  his 
friends.  Alas,  that  we  should  have  so  little  from  his  pen  in 
the  way  of  serious  stanzas  !  What  we  have  gives  us  the 
strongest  evidence  of  what  we  might  have  had,  if  he  had  not 
bent  his  whole  mind  on  other  things.  The  huge  labours  of 
the  philologist  and  commentator,  left  little  room  for  those  of 
the  bard,  or  even  of  the  polite  litterateur.  Thus  law  checked 
the  literary  aspirations  of  Lord  Mansfield  : 

"  How  sweet  an  Ovid,  Murray,  was  our  boast ! 
How  many  Martials  were  iu  Pulteney  lost ! "  f 

And  the  speculations  of  moral  philosophy  proved  too  much  for 
the  genius  of  John  Wilson,  which  hardly  ever  after  blossomed 
into  verse.     The  fairies,  as  an  anonymous  writer  in  "  Black- 

*  The  following  is  a  list  of  his  contributions  to  the  "  Philadelphia  Monthly 
Magazine"  in  1827  and  1828.     I  do  not  think  he  ever  wrote  for  it  afterward. 

Volume  I. 

Page  125.  "The  Fastidious  Man." 
"     1 70.  "Oriental  Literature." 
"     187.  "The  Complacent  Man." 
"     212.  "  Arcby  McMorrow." 

Volume  II. 

"  74.  "A  Vision  of  Greece"  (poetry). 

"  76.  "  Aut  Cagsar  aut  nulltis." 

"  89.  "  Anecdotes  of  the  Barmecides.     From  the  Arabic." 

"  152.  "  Hurt  Feelings." 

«  351.  "Father  and  Son  ;  a  Love  Story." 

f  The  Dunciad,  Book  IV.,  lines  169,  170. 


^Et.  18.]  DR.    SNOWDEN.  137 

wood"  predicted  at  the  time,  were  smothered  in  the  Profes- 
sor's gown. 

He  had  a  good  deal  of  private  correspondence,  too,  at  this 
time  with  Dr.  Snowden,  under  whose  good  management  the 
"  Monthly  Magazine  "  had  reached  a  creditable  degree  of  ex- 
cellence, though  it  was  never  widely  circulated.  In  Philadel- 
phia, however,  it  was  read  by  many  cultivated  people,  and  was 
to  be  seen  upon  the  tables  of  most  of  the  public  libraries  and 
lyceums.  I  have  not  rescued  a  single  one  of  Mr.  Alexander's 
notes  to  the  editor,  but  several  of  Dr.  Snowden's  letters  to  the 
Princeton  essayist  have  fallen  into  my  hands,  and  two  of  them 
are  here  given.  They  are  all  gracefully  and  happily  expressed, 
and  are  good  specimens  of  the  old  quill-pen  hand  then  in 
vogue.  They  are  all  about  the  Magazine  and  Mr.  Alex 
ander's  varied  contributions,  which  were  sometimes  grave, 
sometimes  gay.  The  distressed  editor  commonly  beseeches 
his  young  friend  to  send  him  light  and  playful  pieces,  for  which 
he  knows  he  has  a  cunning  gift,  but  is  almost  always  willing 
to  publish  even  his  most  learned  essays.  These  kind  and  in- 
telligent letters  were  sacredly  kept  by  Mr.  Alexander  under 
the  endorsement  "  Snowdeniana." 

"  PniLADELrniA,  Jany.  14,  1828. 
"  Deae  Sir, 

"  The  fourth  number  of  the  Philadelphia  Monthly  Magazine  is  just 
completed,  and  will  appear  as  usual  on  the  15th.  The  conduct  of  a 
work  like  this  is  certainly  a  task,  but  to  me  a  very  pleasant  one ;  and 
would  be  still  more  so,  if  all  my  correspondents  left  me  so  little  to 
correct  as  you.  I  have  the  same  pleasure  in  receiving  the  communi- 
cations of  several  gentlemen,  which  I  have  in  yours ;  but  some,  the 
matter  of  which  is  excellent,  I  have  to  subject  to  modifications,  which 
are  sometimes  very  troublesome. 

" '  The  Fastidious  Man '  is  quite  a  popular  paper  here,  as  it  de- 
serves to  be:  the  counterpart  in  No.  4  will  I  think  please  also.  I 
am  much  pleased  with  the  short  article  on  Oriental  Literature,  and 
take  this  opportunity  to  remark,  however  strange  it  may  appear, 
that  subjects  of  an  elevated  character  had  better  be  deferred  for 
the  present,  until  the  Magazine  has  acquired,  by  means  of  light 
and  pleasing  papers,  that  popularity  which  will  enable  a  learned 


138  HIS    LETTERS.  [1828. 

article  to  stand  its  ground  in  the  crowd.  It  may  afford  an  author 
some  satisfaction  to  know,  that  four  or  five  thousand  readers  have 
access  to  his  writings  every  month,  which  is  the  case  with  the 
Magazine — not  that  it  has  so  ample  a  patronage, — (the  subscribers, 
though  consisting  of  the  first  citizens,  are  comparatively  few)  but 
so  many  libraries,  athenaeums,  &c,  &c,  have  placed  it  on  their 
tables,  that  the  whole  world  seems  to  use  it  without  contributing  a 
cent  to  its  support.  This  is  a  disadvantage  to  new  publications — but 
it  cannot  be  prevented.  I  think  you  might  promote  its  interests  by 
placing  a  copy  of  the  third  number  (of  which  I  send  you  two)  on  the 
tables  of  the  Cliosophic  and  Whig  Societies.  The  result  would  be 
totally  different  in  this  case  from  that  of  those  which  I  have  just 
mentioned,  since  the  students  will  only  see  it  long  enough  to  know  its 
character,  by  the  time  they  leave  college,  when,  it  is  probable,  many 
may  think  of  subscribing  for  it  on  their  return  to  their  homes.  This 
however  I  leave  to  your  discretion  ;  if  the  societies  should  not  think 
proper  to  subscribe  for  a  copy  each,  I  will  present  them  with  one. 
I  thank  you  for  the  paper  on  Self-importance,  it  is  excellent  in  its  kind ; 
but  not,  as  you  have  intimated  yourself,  exactly  the  thing  that  I  wished. 
It  wants  some  of  the  raciness  of  your  first  paper,  as  well  as  variety 
and  point.  Self-importance,  as  it  manifests  itself  in  a  thousand  forms 
in  a  city  would  admit  of  many  choice  touches.  You  have,  however, 
treated  the  subject  well,  and  in  a  style  of  much  perspicuity  and  elegance. 
It  will  appear  in  the  fifth  number. 

"  Let  me  request,  if  perfectly  convenient  to  you,  another  short 
article  in  the  course  of  two  weeks,  or  earlier.  Take  any  light  topic 
that  may  occur  to  you,  and  play  with  it,  in  your  ancient  namesake's 
vein  ;  and  I  will  consent  to  your  being  learned,  after  a  few  more  num- 
bers of  the  Magazine  have  appeared  :  I  have  held  my  own  tongue  (pen 
I  should  say)  on  classical  matters  ever  since  the  first  number,  when  I 
was  informed,  to  my  great  surprise,  that  it  was  too  learned.  This  is  a 
droll  age,  but  we  must  humour  it  a  little,  if  we  wish  to  make  it  wiser. 
"  I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

"  Your  unknown  friend, 

"  J.  0.  Sxowden." 

"  Philadelphia,  May  3,  182S. 
"  Deae  Sib, 

"I  received  your  pleasant  letter  of  May  1st  duly.    You  desire  me 

to  indicate  what  class  of  subjects  I  prefer  for  the  magazine,  '  grave,  or 

lighter  articles  suggested  by  fancy.'    As  you  say  it  rests  with  me  to  say 


.Et.18.]  MONTHLY    MAGAZINE.  139 

what  species  I  prefer,  I  will  remark,  that  however  agreeable  it  would 
be  to  me  to  insert  graver  papers,  yet  the  success  of  the  Magazine 
requires  gaiety:  your  grave  papers  would  be  very  acceptable  to  me, 
but  I  and  all  my  readers  would  prefer  your  gaiety.  That  faculty  is 
rare.  I  have  but  two  besides  yourself  who  play  in  that  vein.  The 
mass  of  my  correspondents  are  your  grave  gentlemen  ;  they  abound  ; 
I  am  at  no  loss  for  sober  sense,  in  good  taste  :  the  inference  then  will 
be  that  efforts  of  fancy,  playful  essays  or  sketches,  would  be  more 
desirable  to  me  and  my  readers.  People  in  this  age  do  not  read 
magazines  to  get  wise  ;  e.  g.  Blackwood,  Campbell,  &c,  &c.  Choose 
then,  my  good  friend,  whatever  subject  you  please  ;  and  if  at  any  time 
you  have  on  hand  something  of  the  graver  sort  which  you  may  think  a 
'confounded  good  thing'  and  which  you  would  like  to  see  inserted, 
be  sure  to  send  it  to  me  ;  and  if  I  entertain  the  same  opinion  I  shall  be 
happy  to  give  it  a  place.  This  induces  me  to  reply  to  a  query  in  your 
letter  and  which  you  did  not  wish  that  I  should  answer :  I  have  never 
inserted  an  article — I  will  say  line — I  had  almost  said  word  (such  has 
been  my  care  in  these  matter?)  which  I  did  not  approve  of;  or  under  the 
influence  of  any  one.  My  control  over  the  magazine  is  absolute  ;  for, 
while  I  am  Editor,  I  am  also  the  sole  Proprietor,  and  my  correspondents 
are  numerous — e.  g.,  seventy  and  more  rejected  papers  (among  which, 
to  my  grief  I  say  it,  is  one  by  the  worthy  friend  to  whom  I  am  at  this 
moment  writing,  and  which  he  sent  me  three  or  four  months  ago  (Con- 
rad and  Anselmo). 

"With  respect  to  the  article  on  Self-Importance,  which  appears  to 
have  given  you  a  little  trouble,  I  may  say  that  It  did  not  meet  my 
wishes :  but  then,  the  style,  the  diction,  the  flow  of  sentences,  and 
other  matters  redeemed  it,  and  I  gave  it  place,  of  right,  not  as  a  perfect 
guest,  but  as  one  who  deserved  to  be  in  good  company.  The  piece,  I 
assure  you,  was  not  without  its  friends — among  them  Dr.  Franklin 
Bache.     So  much  for  'Self-Importance.' 

"You  say,  you  could  give  me  a  trifle  on  'Hurt  Feelings'  Good! 
the  subject  will  take. 

"Y"ou  mention  in  a  postscript  'Historical  Eomances  in  miniature,' 
founded  on  colonial  and  revolutionary  legends.  Such  papers  would  be 
particularly  interesting. 

"I  hereby  request  my  worthy  friend  kA.  J.  A.'  alias  'A.  L.  I.'  to  accept 
(for  kindnesses  already  rendered),  'a  complete  set  of  the  Philadelphia 
Monthly  Magazine'  for  five  years,  commencing  from  October,  1S2S.' 

"I  am,  Sir,  your  unseen  but  sincere  friend,         J.  C.  Snowdex. 
"J.  A.  Alexander,  Princeton. 


140  PERSIA    AND    THE    EAST.  [1828. 

"I  am  still  unwell — a  chill  arid  fever  yesterday  and  much  dehility 
to-day — Twenty  to  one  I  have  written  as  had  English,  ay  and  Latin, 
scraps  as  that  Irish  gentleman  who  swore  that  no  one  could  write 
grammar  with  such  a  pen.  Pass  over  such  foihles  as  those  of  an 
invalid. 

"God  hless  you,  and  mend  your  manuscript : 

"Good-night,  J.  0.  S." 

It  is  interesting  to  read  what  he  composed  at  this  critical 
period  of  his  life,  whether  in  one  mode  or  the  other;  but  the 
poetry  has  this  charm,  that  these  were  in  a  manner  farewell 
efforts.  I  give  below  two  of  the  pieces  contributed  by  him 
to  the  "  Monthly  Magazine."  Though  published  later,  they 
were  both  written  about  this  time. 

The  first  implies  a  probable  acquaintance  with  the  litera- 
ture of  the  East  and  especially  of  Persia.  The  second  shows 
a  growing  enthusiasm  for  that  of  the  West.  We  shall  soon 
be  convinced  on  still  better  grounds  than  any  that  have  yet 
been  given,  that  Mr.  Alexander  was  neither  a  tyro  nor  a  pre- 
tender in  these  matters.  Moore  has  written  Oriental  verses 
ad  nauseam  without  ever  seeing  the  Orient  or  reading  any 
one  of  its  numerous  languages.  Kinglake  and  Beckl'ord  have 
written  on  the  same  subjects  and  with  the  same  success  in 
prose.  But  none  of  these  has  written  such  a  Diary  as  the  one 
on  which  we  are  about  to  enter. 

•     TIIE  FALL  OF  ISPAHAN.* 

{From  the  Persian.) 

The  whispers  of  the  morning  breeze 
Through  nodding  groves  of  spicy  trees 
Have  roused  the  bulbul  from  his  rest ; 
And  springing  from  his  fragrant  nest 
He  skims  in  search  of  luscious  food, 
Thy  crystal  waves,  fair  Zenderoud  !  f 
But  save  the  flight  of  that  lone  bird, 
No  sound  nor  sign  of  life  is  heard  ; 

*  The  City  of  Ispahan  was  sacked  by  the  Afghans  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  cen- 
tury.— J.  A.  A. 

t  A  stream  running  through  the  city.— J.  A.  A. 


j3t.is.]  FALL    OF   ISPAHAN.  1*1 

Nor  voice  of  mirth  nor  busy  hum 
Nor  trumpet's  blast,  nor  roll  of  drum, 
Nor  horseman's  march,  nor  camel's  tread : 
But  silence  reigns,  as  deep  and  dead 
As  when  the  march  of  time  began, 
Through  all  thy  dwellings,  Ispahan ! 

Again  'tis  morning;  but  no  more 
The  silence  reigns  that  reigned  before ; 
The  dying  child's  expiring  cry, 
The  dying  mother's  farewell  sigh, 
The  groans  of  famine  and  disease, 
Are  now  the  burden  of  the  breeze  ; 
The  bulbul  wheels  his  rapid  flight 
Away,  with  wonder  and  affright — 
To  see  the  dead  by  thousands  strewed 
O'er  the  polluted  Zenderoud  ! 
To  feel  the  hot  contagious  breath 
Of  the  stern  messenger  of  death, 
To  hear  the  murmur  of  despair 
Which  agitates  the  troubled  air, 
As  famished  beast  and  starving  man 
Throng  through  the  streets  of  Ispahan. 

Once  more  'tis  morning,  and  again 

The  voice  of  nature  and  of  men 

Is  hushed  in  silence,  such  as  reigns 

Through  death's  unvisited  domains ; 

But  not  that  calm  and  holy  rest 

Which  soothes  to  peace  the  troubled  breast, 

And  guardian  vigils  loves  to  keep 

O'er  the  defenceless  infant's  sleep  : 

The  pause  that  now  enchains  the  air, 

Is  the  dead  stillness  of  despair : 

No  more  to  greet  the  sun's  first  rays, 

The  bulbul  tunes  his  thousaud  lays ;  * 

His  song  no  more  shall  be  renewed 

Along  thy  waters,  Zenderoud  ! 

For  see !  o'er  citadel  and  moat, 

The  Persian  flag  has  ceased  to  float, 

And  struggling  with  the  adverse  air 

A  stranger's  flag  is  floating  there. 

*  One  of  the  epithets  applied  to  the  bulbul  by  the  Persian  poets  is  that  of  Hezer-avaz 
or  thousand  voices,  in  allusion  to  the  variety  of  its  notes.— J.  A.  A. 


142  A   VISION   OF    GREECE.  fl828. 

The  strife  is  o'er ;  the  deed  is  done  : 
The  Persian  warrior's  race  is  run  ; 
Hi3  sword  is  broken,  and  he  lies 
In  death,  still  gazing  on  the  skies ; 
While  o'er  the  dying  and  the  dead, 
In  sullen  mockery  is  spread, 
The  banner  of  the  fierce  Afghan, — 
And  thou  art  fallen,  Ispahan ! " 

About  the  same  time  appeared  the  following : 

A  VISION   OF  GKEECE. 

Calm  twilight  o'er  the  Grecian  isles 

Has  thrown  her  veil  of  sombre  gray  ; 
The  dying  sunset's  farewell  smiles 

In  golden  pomp  have  passed  away. 

No  sounds  the  solemn  silence  wake 

Save  ocean's  deep  and  distant  roar, 
As  his  chafed  billows  dash  and  break 

In  sullen  murmurs  on  the  shore. 

But  as  that  dull  and  dream-like  song 

Subsides  in  momentary  rest, 
A  strain  of  music  creeps  along, 

As  from  the  islands  of  the  blest. 

Whence  flow  the  sounds  ?     It  is  a  lyre — 

And  swept  by  none  but  Grecian  hand ; 
In  mingled  tones  of  vengeful  ire 

And  sorrow  for  his  native  land. 

As  he  pursues  a  theme  so  dear, 

Hark !  how  the  ancient  cliffs  prolong, 
With  all  their  echoes  far  and  near, 

The  burden  of  the  minstrel's  song. 

"  Is  this  the  land,"  he  faintly  sighs, 
"  Where  glory  reared  his  crest  of  old, 
And  freedom  to  the  cloudless  skies 

Her  crimsoned  flag  in  wrath  unrolled  ?  " 

"  Is  this  the  land,"  he  fiercely  asks, 

As  memory  goads  him  with  her  sting, 
"  This  land  where  bondsmen  ply  their  tasks 

And  kneel  before  an  alien  kin"  ? 


/Et.18.1  A    VISION    OF   GREECE.  143 

"  Is  this  the  land  where  Xerxes  fled 
Alone,  unarmed  and  in  dismay  ? 
Is  this  the  noble  Spartan's  bed  ? 
Can  this  be  proud  Thermopylae  ?  " 

As  the  last  echo  dies  away, 

A  hollow  voice  responds  to  his — 
"  Can  this  be  proud  Thermopylae  ?  " 
The  answer  comes — " It  is,  It  is!  " 

And  see  !  above  the  hallowed  tomb, 

Where  sleeps  the  Spartan  and  his  men, 
Their  ghosts  seem  mustering  in  the  gloom, 

And  rallying  for  the  fight  again. 

Behold !  behold  !  the  grisly  band 

Have  seized  upon  their  ancient  pass  ; 
Before  them  stalks  in  stern  command, 

The  spirit  of  Leonidas. 

One  shout — one  shout  of  ancient  days, 

And  all  is  silent  as  before  ; 
While  from  the  cliffs  a  sudden  blaze 

Its  blood-red  light  begins  to  pour. 

Enough,  enough,  they  work  their  will ; 

No  sooner  is  the  signal  given, 
Than  from  the  crest  of  every  hill 

An  answering  beacon  flames  to  Heaven. 

But  what  portentous  sound  is  this, 

Which  rises  with  the  rising  dawn  ? 
Half-stifled  shouts  from  Salamis, 

And  cries  of  war  from  Marathon. 

The  spell  is  broken  !    Arm  for  fight ! 

Vengeance  is  sure,  for  God  is  just! 
Greece  has  arisen  in  her  might, 

And  spurned  her  fetters  to  the  dust. 

Again,  again,  from  every  height, 

The  war-cry  sends  its  dread  alarms ; 
Again  the  sun's  returning  light, 

Sees  renovated  Greece  in  arms. 

She  invokes  no  more  the  fabled  powers, 
Whom  erst  her  magic  minstrels  sung ; 


144  ENGLISH    POETS.  1328. 

But  to  the  wind  from  all  her  towers, 
The  banner  of  the  Cross  is  flung. 

No  more  the  heathen  anthem  rings, 

To  Mars  from  her  embattled  posts ; 
Her  sovereign  is  the  King  of  kings, 

Her  patron  is  the  Lord  of  Hosts. 

See  land  and  ocean,  tower  and  mast, 
Teeming  with  countless  throngs  of  men  ! 

The  dream  of  servitude  is  past, 
And  Greece  is  now  herself  again. 

The  constellation  of  poets  that  about  this  time  continued 
to  fix  the  attention  of  the  world  and  dazzle  the  eyes  of  the 
critics,  could  hardly  fail  to  be  an  object  of  considerable  attrac- 
tion to  the  author  of  these  verses.  As  canto  after  canto,  book 
after  book  came  out,  they  were  eagerly  read  by  Mr.  Alexander, 
as  well  as  by  his  two  older  brothers.  None  of  the  gifted 
writers  whose  productions  swarmed  during  this  period  and 
filled  so  much  of  the  labours  of  Mr.  Jeffrey  and  his  coadju- 
tors in  the  Edinburgh  Review,  seems  to  have  exerted  a  more 
decided  impression  on  the  style  of  Mr.  Alexander  than  those 
of  Lord  Byron.  The  American  student  was  richly  qualified 
to  appreciate  intellectual  excellence  of  this  sort,  and  his 
quick  soul  must  have  kiudled  under  the  inspiration.  The 
correspondence,  therefore,  can  hardly  be  altogether  accidental 
between  the  stirring  numbers  of  "the  Childe"  and  the  nervous 
diction  and  peculiarly  sonorous  rythm  of  every  scrap  of  verse 
that  fell  from  that  young  scholar.  And  yet  the  poetry  of 
Addison  Alexander  is  as  original  and  sui  generis  as  his  prose. 
Some  of  the  very  themes*  on  which  Byron  loved  to  write 
were  also  favourites  of  Mr.  Alexander's.  Much  of  this  was 
doubtless  due  to  a  partial  similarity  of  tastes,  and  perhaps 

*  To  say  nothing  of  such  familiar  pieces  as  "  The  Isles  of  Greece,"  I  need 
only  point  to  the  LXXIII.  stanza  of  the  second  canto  of  Childe  Harold,  and  the 
spirited  translation  of  the  Greek  war  song  Aevre  ircuSes  twv  'EAA^j'co;'  of  Riga, 
"  Sons  of  the  Greeks,  arise."  Both  of  the  last  named  contain  like  allusions  to 
Leonklas  and  Thermopylae  The  stanzas  given  in  the  text  will  not  suffer  in 
comparison  with  this  animated  lyric. 


,Et.1&]  CHANGE    OF   STUDIES.  145 

a  resemblance  of  native  talents.  But  he  Avas  now  about  to 
enter  more  and  more  heartily  upon  the  business  of  a  transla- 
tor and  interpreter  of  foreign  tongues,  and  to  turn  his  back 
upon  the  captivating  East  and  the  blandishments  of  poetry. 
Like  the  Shepherd  in  Lycidas  after  a  wistful  retrospective 
glance,  he  was  soon  to  cease  his  song. 

He  touched  the  tender  stops  of  various  quills, 
With  eager  thought  warbling  his  Doric  lay ; 
And  now  the  sun  had  stretched  out  all  the  hills, 
And  now  was  dropped  into  the  western  bay ; 
At  last  he  rose,  and  twitched  his  mantle  blue : 
To-morrow  to  fresh  woods  and  pastures  new. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  first  records  which  I  have  been  able  to  find  of  Mr. 
Alexander's  studies  as  preserved  in  his  own  journals  are  now 
to  be  laid  before  the  reader.  The  earliest  allusions  to  his 
literary  employments  are  contained  in  the  two  letters  to  his 
brother  James,  which  have  already  been  given. 

"Jan.  1.— Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Sura  19.  Hebrew,  Exodus,  chap. 
xix.  Italian,  Tasso,  Ger.  Lib.  Canto  12.  Latin,  Cicero  in  Q.  Csecilium. 
German,  Rules  of  pronunciation  ;  Greek,  Matthew,  chaps.  1-4." 

"  Jan.  2. — Hebrew,  Exodus,  chap.  20.  Persian,  Hafiz  (Nott's  Ed.) 
ode  16.  French,  Auxiliary  verbs.  Spanisb,  Don  Quix.  chaps.  27-28. 
Greek,  Matt.  eh.  4-8." 

"Jan.  3. — Hebrew,  Exod.  chs.  20-21.  Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Suras 
19-20.  Latin,  Cicero  in  Coelio,  and  pro  Lege  Manilia.  German,  De- 
clensions of  art.,  subs,  and  adj.  Greek,  Matthew,  9-12.  Italian,  Tasso, 
G.  L.,  Canto  12  ;  wrote  paradigm  of  reg.  verbs." 

"Jan.  4. — Hebrew,  Exod.  chs.  21-22.  Persian,  sundries.  Spanish, 
Don  Quix.  chs.  28-29.  Syriac,  Michaelis  gram,  alphabet,  points,  regu- 
lar verbs.  Greek,  Matthew,  chs.  13-16.  French,  wrote  paradigm  of 
eleven  regular  verbs  (bis)." 

"  Jan.  5. — Hebrew,  Exod.  chs.  22-23.  Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Suras 
20-21.  Latin,  Cicero  Orat.  pro  Lege  Manilia.  Greek,  Matt.  chs.  17- 
20.  French,  Description  de  l'Arabe,  par  Neibuhr.  English,  Byron's 
poems.  Italian,  wrote  translation  of  Ilistoria  Sacra.  German,  wrote 
paradigms  of  ten  auxiliary  verbs." 

"Jan.  6. — Hebrew,  Genesis  chs.  1-10;  Exodus,  19-23.  Greek, 
Matt.  1-6  and  20-28.  English,  Butler's  Analogy,  Intro,  and  ch.  1. 
Italian,  Tasso,  Ger.  Lib.  canto  13." 

"  Jan.  7. — Hebrew,  Exodus  chs.  23-24.  Persian,  Persian  contro- 
versies, xlix-liii  and  Gulistan  of  Sadi.  Syriac,  Matt.  chap,  i:  6-17. 
Spanish,  Don  Quix.  chs.  29-30.  Greek,  Homer's  Odyss.  Lib.  1.  Mark 
1-4.     French,  par.  eleven  regular  verbs." 

"  Jan.  8. — Hebrew,  Exodus,  chs.  24-25.  Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Suras 
21-22.    Latin,  Cicero's  orations.     German,  revised  nouns,  adjs.  and 


.Et.18.]  JOURNAL.  147 

verbs.  Greek,  Mark,  ch.  5-8.  Italian,  wrote  translation  of  Historia 
Sacra." 

"  Jan.  9. — Hebrew,  Exod.  chs.  25-26.  Persian,  Pers.  contro.  and 
Gulistan.  Syriac,  Matt.  ch.  i.  v.  18-25.  Frencb,  Levizac's  grammar 
and  irregular  verbs.  Spanish,  Don  Quix.  cbs.  30-31.  Greek,  Mark, 
chs.  9-12." 

"  Jan.  10 — Hebrew,  Exodus,  chs.  26-27.  Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Suras 
22-23.  Latin,  Cicero,  pro  Archia  poeta.  German,  the  whole  of  Wen- 
derbork's  grammar.  Greek,  Mark,  chs.  13-16.  English,  Otway's 
plays.  Italian,  paradigms  of  regular  and  irregular  verbs ;  translation 
of  Historia  Sacra." 

"Jan.  11. — Hebrew,  Exod.  chs.  27-28.  Persian,  Gulistan  of  Sadi. 
French,  regular  and  irregular  verbs.  Spanish,  Don  Quix.  chs.  31-32. 
Greek,  Luke,  ch.  i." 

"  Jan.  12. — Hebrew,  Exodus,  chs.  28-29.  Arabic,  Al  Koran,  Suras 
23-24.  Latin,  Cicero.  Greek,  Luke  1-3.  English,  wrote  *  communi- 
cations for  the  Philadelphia  Monthly  Magazine,  viz. :  1.  A  dramatic 
fragment.  2.  The  Fall  of  Ispahan.  3.  A  Vision  of  Greece.  4.  The 
Tears  of  Esau." 

The  diary  of  the  next  few  days  presents  more  fully  his 
method  of  studying  the  various  languages  which  now  occu- 
pied his  attention.  What  is  extracted  from  these  entries  is  a 
specimen  of  all. 

"Jan.  14. — Read:  in  Hebrew,  Exodus,  chs.  29-30. — May  not  our 
canopy  be  derived  from  the  Hebrew  SJD,  a  wing?  The  shadow  of 
wings  is  a  frequent  expression  in  the  Bible.  There  is  another  deriva- 
tion, more  cut-ious,  and  I  think  much  more  certain  :  I  mean  that  of 
each  from  ths  :  The  use  of  this  word  as  a  distributive  pronoun  in 
Hebrew  is  very  remarkable.  One  to  another  would  be  properly 
translated  ins^j  ^X  "'N  a  man  to  his  friend  or  brother.  Nor  is  this 
mode  of  expression  confined  in  its  application  to  human  beings,  nor 
even  to  animals  in  general ;  We  find  it  used  in  Exodus  with  things, 
which  it  would  scarcely  be  possible  to  personify.  For  example  ; — '  The 
five  curtains  shall  be  coupled'  Pinl'nx  >>N  Htt5H  '■woman,  (or  generi- 
cally  female)  to  her  sister,'  i.  e.  one  to  another.  '  And  other  five 
curtains  shall  be  coupled  woman  to  her  sister.'1  Another  peculiar  idiom 
which  occurs  to  me  is  that  in  which  the  word  son  is  used  in  connection 

*  That  is,  I  think  he  means,  revised,  copied  and  posted  them. 


148  DAILY    STUDIES.  [1828. 

with  the  number  of  years  to  express  a  man's  age.  To  give  one  example 
out  of  many  H21B  nis«3  ffltj~'i3  nb  'Noah  was  the  son  of  six  hundred 
years?  This  may  perhaps  be  explained  by  the  fact  that  the  terms 
expressive  of  natural  relations  among  men,  such  as  father,  mother,  son 
and  daughter,  are  frequently  used  to  express  relations  of  a  different  kind 
and  between  different  objects  ;  a  large  proportion  of  the  Arabic  proper 
names  being  formed  by  this  rule.  For  example — '  Father  of  power,' 
i.  e.  the  powerful.  I  have  never,  however,  met  with  this  idiom  in  the 
books  of  Moses  in  reference  to  any  thing  but  the  length  of  life." 

"2.  In  Spanish.  Don  Quixote,  chs.  32-33.  The  most  elaborate 
passage  in  this  work  of  Cervantes  which  I  have  yet  met  with,  is,  'La 
Novela  del  curioso  Impertinente.'  Indeed,  from  the  pains  which  he 
takes  to  introduce  all  his  episodes,  it  is  evident  that  he  laboured  them 
with  a  care  which  he  did  not  give  to  the  main  story.  To  this  fact  he 
seems  to  allude  himself  when  he  speaks  of  the  enjoyment  which  his 
hero  had  been  the  means  of  affording  to  the  world,  '  no  solo  de  la 
dulzura  de  su  verdadera  historia,  sino  de  los  cuenios  y  episodios  della, 
que  la  misma  historia.'  If  the  author  had  any  partiality  for  this 
episode,  '  La  Novella,'  it  was  certainly  not  a  blind  one.  This  story  is 
finely  conceived,  ingeniously  developed,  and  elegantly  expressed.  The 
speech  of  Lothario  in  opposition  to  the  proposal  of  his  friend  is  so  fine 
a  specimen  of  ethical  argument  and  eloquence,  that  the  reader  is 
tempted  to  exclaim,  as  Sancho  to  his  master — 'Mas  bueno  era  onestra 
merced  para  predicadore  que  para  cabellero  andante.'  The  following 
sentence  contains  a  strong  but  most  expressive  description  of  the  effect 
of  suppressed  sorrowr, — '  No  exensaras  con  el  secreto  tu  dolor  ;  antes 
tendras  que  lloras  contino  si  no  lassimas  de  los  ojos,  lassimas  sangre  del 
corazena.1 

"  3.  Persian.  The  Gulistan.  Persian  and  Hebrew  are  radically 
distinct,  in  their  genius  and  structure,  as  well  as  vocables.  They  agree 
however  in  this  remarkable  circumstance,  that  the  government  of  one 
substantive  by  another  is  denoted  by  a  change  in  the  latter  and  not 
the  former  a3  in  almost  all  other  languages.  The  cardinal  number 
for  six  is  the  same  also  in  both  the  Hebrew  and  Persian  languages. 
The  Persian  agrees  with  the  Syriac  (a  derivative  of  Hebrew)  with 
respect  to  the  definite  article,  which  is  formed  in  both  by  adding  a 
vowel  at  the  end  of  the  noun.  The  coincidences  between  the  Persian 
and  English  are  very  numerous  and  striking,  and  are  rendered  more 
remarkable,  by  the  fact  that  many  of  the  words  common  to  both  are 
simple,  original,  primitive  terms  used  in  ordinary  intercourse,  and  not 
iqore  technicalities." 


^t.18.]  ENGLISH    READING.  149 

"4.  In  English.  (1.)  Sir  William  Jones's  anniversary  discourse  on 
the  Philosophy  of  the  Asiatics.  I  read  this  with  a  view  to  the  composition 
of  an  article  on  the  same  subject.  Sir  William,  however,  speaks  princi- 
pally in  reference  to  the  Hindus.  I  should  confine  myself  to  the  Moham- 
medan nations.  (2).  The  Edinburgh  Eeview.  Eeview  of  the  Ilamil- 
tonian  System.  I  find  I  have  adopted  this  system  unconsciously  in 
teaching  J.  A.  and  P.  S.  C.  the  Italian  language.  The  principal  differ- 
ence is  this  that  I  introduce  grammatical  inflexions  at  an  earlier  period. 
My  rule  is  to  give  a  short  lesson  translated  word  for  word.  When  the 
meaning  and  combination  of  words  is  learned,  to  give  the  paradigms 
of  the  verbs  contained  in  it  to  be  committed  to  memory,  and  explain 
the  other  grammatical  difficulties  before  proceeding  further.  (3).  The 
Eed  Rover,  vol.  2,  cbs.  1-7.  I  am  fond  of  beginning  with  the  second 
volume  of  a  novel.  It  makes  the  first  doubly  interesting.  I  think  the 
comparison,  or  rather  the  equalizing,  of  Cooper  with  Scott  is  highly 
unjust  for  these  causes  following  : — 1.  Scott,  it  is  evident  from  every 
page  of  his  works,  is  a  man  of  taste,  Cooper  not.  (2).  Scott  is  always 
at  his  ease ;  Cooper,  constrained,  and  apparently  striving  after  some- 
thing unattainable.  (3).  Scott  is  always  perspicuous.  His  pictures 
are  not  only  striking  in  distant  view,  but  perfectly  intelligible  in  all 
their  parts.  Cooper,  on  the  contrary,  is  often  obscure,  and  that  when 
he  has  no  intention  to  be  mysterious — and  his  descriptions  frequently 
leave  the  mind  confused  and  clouded  without  any  definite  image  to 
occupy  it.  Cooper  may  be  a  man  of  more  depth  and  strength  of  feel- 
ing ;  but  Scott  is  vastly  his  superior  in  liveliness  and  fertility  of  fancy. 
Cooper  relies  on  the  interest  of  his  scene,  and,  at  most,  on  variety  of 
incident,  to  arrest  the  attention  of  his  reader.  Scott  enchains  it  by 
the  delineation  of  character.  All  Cooper's  passages  may  be  resolved 
into  one  or  two  varieties ;  and  of  these  few,  some  are  unnatural  and 
even  monstrous  ;  while  Scott  has  an  endless  diversity,  and  all  of  them 
true  to  nature.  The  only  passage  in  Cooper's  writings  I  have  met  with 
approaching  to  sublimity,  is  the  description  of  the  storm  in  the  first 
volume  of  the  Pilot ;  but  although  the  advantages  as  to  scene  and  cir- 
cumstances would  appear  to  be  on  his  side,  that  description  is  nothing 
when  compared  with  the  escape  of  Sir  Arthur  Wardour,  his  daughter 
and  Edie  Ochiltree  from  the  sea,  in  the  Antiquary." 

"  5.  French.  Telemaque,  pp.  1-5.  Wrote  paradigms  of  all  the 
verbs  occurring  in  the  above  passage  of  Telemaque,  being,  in  number, 
thirty-five  regular  and  sixteen  irregular  verbs ;  total,  fifty-one." 

"  Jan.  15. — The  finest  passage  which  I  have  seen  in  the  Koran  is 
the  comparison  of  the  excellence  of  the  wicked  to  the  lake  of  the  desert 


150  EARLY    CRITICISM.  [1828. 

(an  optical  illusion  in  sandy  and  hot  countries),  which  occurs  in  the 
chapter  of  light.  I  differ  in  toto  from  all  -writers  who  assert  that 
Mohammed,  in  devising  a  religion  for  his  followers,  proceeded  upon 
any  regular  plan  whatever.  We  are  too  apt  to  ascribe  motives  to  those 
who  never  felt  them,  and  regard  as  deep-laid  contrivance  what  proba- 
bly arose  from  accident.  He  was  first  an  enthusiast ;  a  half-mad  vision- 
ary. In  this  character  he  began  his  revelations,  and  afterwards  finding 
their  effect,  became  an  ambitious  aspirant  after  power.  The  idea  that 
he  endeavoured  to  adapt  his  doctrines  to  the  belief  and  propensities  of 
particular  sects,  I  think  unwarranted:  not  only  from  his  ridiculous 
anachronisms,  but  from  the  character  of  the  stories  which  he  gave  as 
sacred  history.  All  that  he  has  borrowed  from  the  Scriptures  has  the 
appearance  of  being  caught  from  oral  narration.  "When  we  consider 
the  fondness  of  the  Arabs  for  story-telling,  we  may  readily  believe  that 
the  Jews  and  Christians  who  were  among  them  found  abundant  em- 
ployment in  rehearsing  impressive  narratives  of  the  Pentateuch  and 
Gospel.  That  these  should  take  strong  hold  of  Mohammed's  mind, 
then  in  a  low  condition  is  not  surprising.  By  nature  imaginative,  he 
may  have  brooded  in  secret  over  these  historical  facts,  till  he  felt  their 
influence  in  a  rising  desire  to  emulate  the  ancient  prophets.  This  I 
believe  to  be  the  source  of  his  Scriptural  information.  That  he  was 
actually  assisted  in  the  composition  of  the  Koran  by  either  Jew  or 
Christian,  I  think  improbable ;  because  either  would  have  given  more 
connected  narratives.  In  his  own,  not  only  is  the  truth  diluted,  but 
the  facts  confused  and  out  of  order,  like  the  attempts  of  a  man  to  re- 
peat a  half-forgotten  story." 

The  following  criticism  gives  us  an  insight  into  bis  early 
tastes,  confirming  also  the  impressions  and  justifying  the 
inferences  which  we  have  already  drawn  from  other  sources, 
as  to  his  amazing  intellectual  energy : 

"Jan.  17. — Read  the  'Red  Rover.'  After  reading  this  novel 
through,  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  the  best,  as  a  whole,  of  Cooper's 
writings.  The  interest  is  far  more  intense  and  better  supported  than 
in  any  of  the  rest.  There  is  a  sameness,  however,  in  his  descriptions 
which  nothing  but  the  comparative  novelty  of  naval  romance  enables 
us  to  tolerate.  The  ships  are  forever  'bending  their  tall  spars  as  if  to 
salute '  this  or  that  object,  and  then  '  gracefully  recovering  their  erect 
position.'  He  is  too  fond,  moreover,  of  'lurking  smiles,'  and  'strug- 
gling smiles,'  and  other  cant  phrases  of  his  own,  which  would  appear 


Mr.18.]  STUDIES   FOR   THE    MONTH.  151 

to  indicate,  that  he  had  rio  very  vivid,  impression  of  the  object  in  his 
own  mind;  but  described  rather  by  rote;  so  that  liis  descriptions, 
especially  of  men,  are  like  set  speeches,  differing  only  in  minor  par- 
ticulars, but  capable  of  being  adapted,  by  a  little  alteration  to  any 
character.  In  denouement  he  is  never  successful.  The  winding  up  of 
his  novel  is  wretched  in  itself  and  rendered  more  so  by  its  resemblance 
to  the  closing  chapters  of  the  '  Spy.'  " 

This  plan  of  writing  down  his  thoughts  on  the  studies  and 
readings  of  the  day  he  kept  up  for  several  weeks.  I  continue 
to  quote  from  the  journal : 

"Jan.  26. — I  have  been  reading  the  past  week  nine  chapters  in 
Hebrew;  seven  chapters  in  the  Koran,  and  one  in  the  Arabic  New 
Testament;  twelve  chapters  in  the  Italian  Bible;  two  in  the  Persian 
New  Testament;  two  in  the  Spanish  do.;  one  in  the  German  do.; 
three  chapters  in  Don  Quixote,  and  several  passages  in  Telemaque." 

"Jan.  31.— During  the  month  which  is  now  closing,  I  have  read 
thirty-two  chapters  in  the  Hebrew  Bible,  all  of  them  twice  and  most 
of  them  three  times;  seventeen  Suras  in  the  Koran — all  of  them  twice 
except  the  first  and  last.  I  have  also,  within  this  month,  begun  the 
study  of  the  German  language,  and  made  such  progress  as  shall  be 
mentioned  hereafter.  I  commenced  reading  the  Greek  Testament  on 
the  first  of  the  month,  but  discontinued  it  after  finishing  two  gospels. 
On  the  11th  inst.  I  commenced  the  practice  of  repeating  what  I  read 
in  Hebrew  in  Martini's  Italian  version,  which  I  have  regularly  con- 
tinued. On  the  25th  inst.  I  procured  the  5th  volume  of  "Walton's 
Polyglot,  and  since  that  date,  have  read  the  Scriptures  in  six  lan- 
guages on  the  following  plan.  1.  Leviticus  in  the  morning;  in  He- 
brew critically,  (i.  e.  with  grammar  and  lexicon).  2.  The  Gospel  of 
John  in  the  morning  in  German — critically;  at  night  in  Spanish  cur- 
sorily. 3.  The  Gospel  of  Matthew  in  the  morning  in  Persian — criti- 
cally; at  night,  in  Arabic  cursorily;  repeating  every  day  the  readings 
of  the  preceding.  These  readings  have,  since  the  25th,  been  my  stand- 
ing orders  of  the  day,  which  I  was  not  at  liberty  to  set  aside.  My 
moveable  orders  of  the  day,  which  might  be  dispensed  with,  if  neces- 
sary or  shifted  from  one  day  to  another,  were — 1.  The  critical  reading 
of  Don  Quixote  in  Spanish.  2.  The  reading  of  Telemaque  in  French. 
3.  All  English  reading;  and  lastly,  composition.  On  Sundays  I  have 
been  in  the  practice  of  repeating  the  portions  of  Scripture  read  during 
the  week." 

"Feb.  2. — During  the  past  week  I  have  read,  critically,  1.  In 


152  STUDIES    FOR   THE    WEEK.  [1828. 

Hebrew  nine  chapters  3n  Leviticus.  2.  In  Persian,  five  chapters  in 
Matthew.  3.  In  Arabic,  eight  chapters  in  Matthew  and  four  Suras  in 
the  Koran.  4.  In  German,  five  chapters  in  John.  5.  In  Spanish, 
eight  chapters  in  Don  Quixote.  6.  In  Italian,  nine  chapters  in  Levit- 
icus.    7.  In  French,  all  the  first  book  of  Telemaque." 

"  Feb.  9. — During  the  week  which  began  on  Monday  the  4th  and 
closes  to-night  (for  I  exclude  Sundays),  I  have  read  critically — that  is 
to  say,  with  strict  philological  attention,  and  with  the  usual  aids  of 
grammar,  lexicon,  &c,  as  follows : — In  Hebrew — Lev.  14-23 ;  In  Per- 
sian, Matt.  9-14 ;  in  German,  John,  8-13  ;  in  Arabic,  Koran,  39-42  ; 
in  Spanish,  Don  Quixotte,  39-41.  In  French,  Telemaque,  one  Book. 
During  the  same  period  I  have  read  cursorily — that  is  to  say,  with  a 
view  to  philological  improvement,  but  with  less  strict  attention  to  ver- 
bal accuracy  and  grammatical  niceties,  (besides  repeating  in  this  way 
every  day  the  portion  read  critically  the  day  before)  as  follows: — In 
Arabic,  Matt.  9-14 ;  in  Italian,  Lev.  14-23  ;  in  Spanish,  John  8-13. 
In  addition  to  the  above  I  have  read  attentively,  '  Goode's  Book  of 
Nature,1  ii.-vii.,  and  skimmed  over  Dunham  &  Olapperton's  Discoveries 
in  Africa.  To  conclude,  I  have  recovered  my  knowledge  of  the  Syriac 
Alphabet,  and  acquired  the  Ethiopic." 

"Saturday  night,  12  m.,  Feb.  16. — I  have,  during  the  past  week 
finished  in  Hebrew,  Leviticus,  the  third  book  of  Moses,  having  been 
employed  upon  it  since  the  25th  of  January.  It  was  not  so  pleasing  a 
task  as  the  perusal  of  Genesis,  and  Exodus  (I  speak  more  critico) — so 
many  words  occur  of  which  the  meaning  is  at  best  uncertain  and  the 
whole  is  so  generally  confined  to  a  single  subject,  that  there  is  com- 
paratively little  room  for  philological  [investigation].  The  26th  chap- 
ter, however,  is  very  eloquent,  and  it  is  very  interesting  to  observe 
the  difference  in  the  design  and  character  of  the  different  books  of 
Moses  thus  far.  The  first  is  a  picture  of  the  ancient  world  and  patri- 
archal times;  a  history  of  the  chosen  people  while  favoured  by  the 
Deity  but  still  living  in  the  midst  of  other  nations  and  complying  with 
their  customs.  But  the  second  begins  the  story  of  their  sufferings 
and  their  wrongs,  their  deliverance  and  their  government,  and  their 
journeyings  toward  that  land  where  they  were  about  to  be  established 
as  a  peculiar  people.  The  third  contains  the  detail  of  those  singular 
ceremonial  observances  which  were  to  be  the  badge  of  their  distinction 
from  the  rest  of  the  human  race. — I  have  also  finished,  during  this 
week,  the  same  book  in  Martini's  translation,  having  read  every  day 
since  the  16th  of  January  (Sundays  excepted)  the  same  portion  criti- 
cally in  Hebrew  and  cursorily  in  Italian." 


J3t.18.]  QUARTERLY    RETROSPECT.  153 

These  records,  spreading  before  us  as  they  do  an  exact 
chart  of  his  course  at  this  time,  give  one  a  good  idea  of  his 
thoroughness  and  system  in  laying  the  foundations  of  his 
subsequent  attainments.  He  continued  to  work  under  this 
schedule  through  the  summer  months.  His  labours  are 
summed  up  in  the  quarterly  retrospect  following,  viz. : 

"March  31. — The  first  quarter  of  the  year  1828  is  this  day  com- 
pleted. A  detailed  review  of  all  my  studies  during  that  period  would 
he  but  a  repetition  of  the  foregoing  pages.  Laying  aside  therefore  the 
consideration  of  subjects  attended  to  accidentally,  or  on  particular 
occasions,  and  of  those  which  I  have  begun,  and  for  various  reasons 
abandoned,  I  shall  confine  myself  to  a  consideration  of  my  advances  in 
the  six  languages  which  have  been  the  regular  and  special  object  of 
my  attention. 

"I.  Hebrew.  In  Hebrew  I  have  read  since  the  1st  of  January,  the 
last  twenty-one  chapters  of  Exodus;  the  whole  of  Leviticus,  Numbers, 
Deuteronomy,  and  the  first  fifteen  chapters  of  Joshua ;  in  all  a  hundred 
and  thirty-three  chapters. 

"  II.  Arabic.  In  Arabic  I  have  read  the  last  ninety-five  chapters  of 
the  Koran,  and  thirty-three  pages  in  De  Sacy's  Arabic  Chrestomathy, 
besides  the  Gospel  of  Matthew  in  Walton's  Polyglot ;  making  (exclu- 
sive of  De  Sacy)  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  chapters. 

"  III.  Spanish.  In  Spanish  I  have  read  the  last  twenty-six  chapters 
of  the  first  part  of  Don  Quixote,  and  the  first  eighteen  chapters  of  the 
second  part — in  all  forty-four  chapters. 

"IV.  French.  In  French  I  have  read  the  whole  of  Telemaque;  the 
'Avare'  of  Moliere,  and  two  acts  of  Racine's  Andromaque,  besides  a 
number  of  minor  tracts. 

"V.  German.  The  study  of  German  I  have  begun  within  the 
quarter,  and  besides  Wenderbork's  and  Noebden's  grammars,  have 
read  the  gospels  of  Matthew  and  John,  in  Luther's  translation,  and  five 
chapters  in  the  gospel  of  Mark — in  all  fifty-four  chapters. 

"  VI.  Persian.  In  Persian  I  have  read  since  the  1st  of  January 
the  Gospels  of  Matthew  and  John  in  "Walton's  Polyglot — and  various 
parts  of  the  Gulistan  of  Sadi  and  the  Tooti  Nameh.*  The  last  two 
works  I  use  in  MS.  To  these  facts  it  may  be  added  that  I  have 
regularly  instructed  P.  S.  C.  and  J.  A.  in  Italian ;  and  have  written 
sundries." 

*  Or  Tales  of  a  Parrot 

7* 


154  VARIED    READING.  [1828. 

"April  24. — I  was  born  on  the  24th  of  April  1809,  and  am  con- 
sequently nineteen  years  old  this  day.  Since  my  last  birthday,  besides 
parts  and  parcels  of  other  works,  I  have  read  the  following  classical 
works  entire : 

"1.  In  Hebrew.  The  Pentateuch  of  Moses;  the  books  of  Joshua, 
Judges  and  1st  Samuel. — 2.  In  Arabic.  The  Koran  of  Mohammed, 
the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  and  parts  of  Abulfaraj  and  Facklibeddin.  3. 
In  French.  The  Telemaque  of  Fenelon,  the  'Avare '  of  Moliere  and  the 
Andromaque  of  Racine.  4.  In  Spanish.  The  Don  Quixote  of  Cervantes. 
5.  In  Italian.  The  Gerusalemme  Liberata  of  Tasso  and  the  Novelle  of 
Soave  in  two  volumes.  I  am  an  enemy  to  all  chrestomathies,  collecta- 
nea, and  other  scrap-books  for  the  students  of  any  language.  "Where 
no  other  books  can  be  had,  the  use  of  such  substitutes  is  compulsory  ; 
but  when  entire  classical  works  can  be  obtained,  no  student  ought  to 
hesitate.  The  Quarterly  Eeview  very  justly  says,  that  a  young  man  of 
sense  and  diligence  will  learn  vastly  more  Greek  by  one  perusal  of  the 
Iliad  than  by  any  attention  to  such  compilations  as  those  of  Andrew 
Dalzel.  This  has  been  my  principle.  When  about  to  learn  a  language, 
I  have  endeavoured  to  obtain  a  standard  work  of  acknowledged  merit, 
and  read  it  from  end  to  end ;  and  if  no  other  such  could  be  immedi- 
ately obtained,  my  rule  has  been  to  read  the  first  again.  To  the  above 
list  I  may  add  a  sixth  :  6.  In  German.  The  four  Gospels,  in  Luther's 
version.  I  have  determined  that  in  the  ensuing  summer,  in  addition 
to  my  philological  pursuits,  I  will  read  law,  beginning  with  Black- 
stone's  Commentaries." 

The  following  entries  give  a  minute  histoiy  of  his  studies 
for  some  time  longer : 

"  June  30. — 1.  Since  the  31st  of  March  I  have  read  in  Hebrew,  the 
last  nine  chapters  in  the  book  of  Joshua,  the  two  books  of  Samuel,  the 
two  books  of  Kings,  the  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  and  twenty-two  chapters 
in  that  of  Jeremiah  ; — in  all,  one  hundred  and  forty-four  chapters. 

"2.  In  Spanish,  I  have  read  during  the  same  period  the  last  fifty-sis 
chapters  of  Don  Quixote,  and  some  numbers  of  'El  Mercurio  de  Nueva 
York,'  a  weekly  newspaper  published  every  Saturday. 

"  3.  I  have  read  in  French  the  last  two  acts  of  Racine's  Androm- 
aque, the  first  two  acts  of  Corneille's  Menteur  &c,  and  one  satire  of 
Boileau's ;  also,  the  second  volume  of  De  Sacy's  Arabic  grammar. 

"  4.  I  have  read  in  Persian  twelve  tales  (or  chapters)  of  the  Tooti 
Nameh. 

"  5.  In  German  I  have  read  the  last  eleven  chapters  in  Mark ;  all 


^t.19.]  PHILOLOGICAL    SOCIETY    FORMED.  155 

of  Luke,  Acts,  Romans,  and  two  chapters  in  Corinthians — in  all  eighty- 
six  chapters. 

"  6.  In  Italian  I  have  read  the  last  seven  cantos  of  Tasso's  G.  L., 
and  the  first  eighteen  cantos  of  the  Orlando  Furioso — in  all  twenty- 
five  chapters. 

"  7.  In  Latin,  The  Institutes  of  Justinian. 

"  8.  In  Greek,  The  tenth  hook  of  the  Odyssey. 

"In  English,  Coke  upon  Littleton  and  the  second  book  of  Black- 
stone's  Commentaries — the  latter  a  second  time." 

"  Aug.  23.  The  Philological  Society  was  formed  this  day  com- 
posed of  graduates  and  students." 

The  studies  of  the  quarter  are  thus  summed  up  : 

"Sept.  30.  1.  In  Hebrew.  Since  the  30th  day  of  June  I  have  read 
the  last  thirty  chapters  of  Jeremiah — the  prophecies  of  Ezekiel,  Hosea, 
Joel,  Amos,  Obed,  Jonah,  Micah,  Nahum,  Habakkuk,  Zephaniah,  Haggai, 
Zechariah,  Malachi,  and  thirty-six  Psalms; — in  all,  a  hundred  and  sixty- 
nine  chapters. 

"  2.  Italian.     The  last  twenty-eight  cantos  of  Orlando  Furioso. 

"  3.  Spanish.     Twelve  numbers  of  '  El  Mercurio,  &c.' 

"  4.  French.  The  funeral  orations  on  the  death  of  Marechal  Tu- 
renne  by  Flechiea  and  Mascara  ;  the  last  two  acts  of  the  '  Menteur '  of 
Corneille ;  other  plays  by  same  author  and  four  comedies  of  Moliere. 

"  5.  Arabic.     Sundries  in  the  Koran  and  Lokman's  Fables. 

"  6.  Persian.     Sundries  in  the  Gulistan  and  the  Tooti  Nameh. 

"7.  Greek.  Homer ;  Was,  I.,  II.,  XVIII. :  Odyssey,  I.,  II.  Sophocles, 
the  Antigone,  several  hundred  lines.     No  more. 

"  8.  Latin.     The  first  Book  of  Cicero,  de  Iuventione  Rhetorica. 

"9.  English.  Vattel's  Law  of  Nations;  the  Federalist;  the  first 
two  volumes  of  Stewart's  Philosophy  of  the  Human  Mind ;  the  first  two 
volumes  of  Kent's  Commentaries  on  American  Law  ;  the  third  volume 
of  Blackstone's  Commentaries  (for  the  third  time) ;  and  sundries." 

There  are  several  allusions  to  Mr.  Alexander's  astonishing 
progress  in  his  studies,  in  his  brother's  letters  to  Dr.  Hall. 
On  the  4th  of  April  he  writes,  "  Addison  has  just  completed 
the  Koran  in  Arabic,  a  work  which  few  have  attempted 
in  America.  Pie  has  added  Spanish  and  Italian  to  his 
list  of  languages ; "  *  and  on  the  28th,  "  Addison  has  finished 

*  Sec  Familiar  Letters,  Vol.  I.,  p.  6C. 


156  SCENERY    OF    PRINCETON.  [1828. 

Ariosto,  and  is  now  at  Boccacio.  He  has  read  about  half 
of  Corneille,  which  I  have  also  read.  In  Spanish  Addison 
began  with  Don  Quixote  and  read  it  over  and  over."  *  He 
was,  like  every  other  person  of  taste,  a  great  admirer  of  the 
serious  and  gay  creations  of  Cervantes,  and  laughed  uncon- 
trollably at  the  absurdities  of  Sancho  Panza.  He  was  almost 
equally  amused  with  Gil  Bias,  and  despised  the  practice  of 
reading  such  books  in  translations. 

It  would  be  delightful  to  be  able  to  look  in  upon  tl  e 
young  student  as  he  bent  his  eyes  over  these  tasks,  mur- 
muring the  while  like  a  swarm  of  bees  in  the  warm  sun- 
shine. Princeton,  the  Princeton  of  that  day  especially,  had 
attractions  alike  for  old  and  young  people.  The  society  of 
the  place  was  refined,  intellectual,  various,  and  agreeable,  and 
would  have  been  pleased  to  receive  the  noted  graduate,  editor, 
and  magazinist  to  its  bosom.  Princeton  is  and  was  famous 
for  its  fine  level  prospects,  and  beautiful  sylvan  walks  along 
the  banks  of  streams  that  were  still  lovely,  if  not  so  fair  and 
beguiling  as  Cam  or  Isis  ;  rustic  shades  which  would  have 
well  befitted  the  speculations  of  Plato,  and  verdant  undula- 
tions displaying  the  fantastically  wreathen  roots  of  the  beech- 
tree,  or  the  summer  shadows  of  the  oak  or  dogwood  or  sassa- 
fras,— with  many  a  shining  surface  of  reflected  sky  and  softly 
delineated  cloud — where  Isaac  Walton  might  have  pursued 
his  sweet  meditations,  or  Virgil  or  Theocritus  piped  to  their 
imaginary  shepherds.  Every  observing  alumnus  of  the  college 
or  resident  in  the  town,  has  noticed  the  rare  glory  of  the  sun- 
sets. Morning  and  evening,  in  good  weather,  nearly  all  the 
young  persons  of  the  place  seized  the  occasion  to  take  pedes- 
trian rambles  over  the  village  roads  and  into  the  surrounding 
country.  A  wide  lane  shaded  for  a  considerable  distance  by 
noble  elms  led  immediately  from  the  college,  through  green 
fields,  to  Stony  Brook  with  its  grassy  meadow  margins,  and 
its  isolated  groups  of  trees,  or  denser  forest  stretched  along 
the  stream  for  miles.  This  lane  commanded  the  rear  view  of 
the  old  grey  building  yclept,  at  the  suggestion  of  good  Gov- 

*  See  Familiar  Letters,  Vol.  I.,  p.  109. 


Mt.  19.]  DEVOTED    TO    HIS    BOOKS.  157 

ernor  Belcher,  Nassau-Hall.  This  was  from  the  college,  south 
as  the  crow  flies.  The  main  thoroughfare  ran  east,  through 
the  open  country  to  Kingston.  The  prospect  to  the  west 
was  at  that  time  full  of  umbrageous  charm  and  shelter.  To 
the  north  was  Rocky-Hill,  with  its  immense  boulders  and  pre- 
cipitous acclivities.  Nor  were  these  various  localities  without 
their  actual  or  traditionary  associations. 

But  the  cloistered  enthusiast  was  not  vulnerable  to  any  of 
these  influences.  "  None  of  these  things  moved  him."  His 
passion  for  literature,  the  rapid  progress  he  was  making  in 
different  departments  of  science,  his  love  of  cheerful,  indoor 
solitude,  his  wonderful  health  and  unflagging  spirits,  and  his 
native  shyness,  and  repugnance  to  the  awkward  contacts  of 
the  world,  overmastered  every  thing  else.  The  Spring  might 
be  never  so  balmy,  the  early  Summer  never  so  florid  and  in- 
viting, the  autumnal  coolness  never  so  crisp  and  bracing,  and 
the  autumnal  forests  never  so  dreamily  brown  and  crimson. 
What  were  these  things  to  "Addison" — as  he  was  still  known 
among  his  old  companions  of  the  college  and  academy  ?  He 
was  a  citizen  of  the  world  of  mind.  He  wandered  in  the 
fields  of  thought.  He  took  wing,  and  hovered  over  the  con- 
tinents of  literature.  He  was  deaf  to  the  voices  of  ordinary 
ambition.  He  coveted  none  of  the  intoxications  of  mere 
pleasure.  "What"!  he  might  exclaim,  as  he  swept  the 
pages  of  the  Gulistan  or  the  Cyropaxlia,  "  what !  crave  ye 
wine,  and  have  Nilus  to  drink  of"  ? 

Time  was  too  short,  it  seemed  to  him,  for  any  dalliance. 
Some  might  have  to  exercise  their  bodies  to  preserve  their 
health;  but  it  was  different  in  his  case;  he  was,  as  Wilson  used 
to  say,  "  as  strong  as  an  eagle."  He  was  as  great  a  prodigy  of 
flesh  and  colour  as  of  intellect.  Why  should  he  exercise  his 
body?  Of  recreation,  other  than  in  the  pursuits  of  philology 
and  belles-lettres,  and  in  making  fun  for  the  bevy  of  children 
that  was  always  at  his  beck  and  call,  he  needed  none,  he  cared 
for  none.  His  duty  evidently  was  to  inform  and  discipline  his 
mind.  No  !  let  others  do  as  they  liked  ;  he  would  keep  his 
room ;  he  would  read  the  Bible,  and  the  Koran,  and  Firdusi, 


158  NUCLEUS    OF    A    LIBRARY.  11S28. 

and  Dante,  and  Tasso,  and  Xenophon,  and  Sir  Walter  Scott. 
This  was  to  him,  not  hardship  but  joy ;  not  slavery  but  free- 
dom ;  it  was  his  element.  "  Stone  walls  do  not  a  prison  make." 
No  swallow  was  ever  happier  in  the  sky,  than  he  was  among 
his  moroceo-covered  tomes.  "  Fishes  that  tipple  in  the  deep, 
know  no  such  liberty  "  ! 

Of  course  his  library  was  as  yet  but  the  nucleus  of  the 
large  collection  he  afterwards  amassed.  He  was  pretty  rich 
in  English  history,  biography,  criticism,  poetry,  and  essays  of 
the  Rambler  and  Spectator  kind  ;  in  the  Latin  and  Greek 
classics ;  and  in  the  learned  helps  in  classical  and  philological 
study,  and  in  the  principal  modern  languages ;  he  had  enough 
in  Arabic,  but  was  poor  in  his  darling  tongue,  the  Persian. 
What  he  lacked  he  could  mostly  find  in  his  father's  library, 
or  at  the  seminary,  or  at  the  college,  or  with  his  brother  James 
(who  was  devoted  to  books),  or  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Hodge, 
Mr.  Hall  or  some  other  friend.  He  was  not  much  addicted  to 
the  habit  of  borrowing,  and  what  he  borrowed  he  invariably 
returned.  A  new  poem  from  Lord  Byron,  or  a  new  story 
by  "  the  great  unknown,"  would  excite  his  interest  as  it  would 
that  of  every  cultivated  reader  of  English  ;  but  he  became  still 
more  enthusiastically  interested  if  he  found  (as  he  once  did)  an 
Arabic  manuscript  or  got  wind  of  a  new  Arabic  and  Persian 
dictionary.*  The  soft  light  of  his  candles  fell  upon  characters 
of  the  most  uncouth  description,  and  upon  walls  already  bur- 
dened with  folios  and  odd-looking  grammars  and  lexicons.  Yet 
the  bow  was  not  always  bent.  He  had  his  own  peculiar  pas- 
times. He  would  revel  in  the  romantic  poems  of  Spenser  and 
Tasso  and  Ariosto  and  in  the  wonderful  chapters  of  the  won- 
derful book  of  Cervantes  ;  and  the  boys  and  girls  were  nearly 
always  welcome,  whether  for  a  romp  or  story. 

During  the  month  of  October,  he  read  in  Hebrew  a  hun- 
dred and  seventeen  Psalms,  and  thirteen  chapters  in  the 
book  of  Proverbs ;  in  French,  all  the  comedies  of  Moliere ; 
in   Italian,   the   whole   of  the   Decameron   of  Boccacio ;    in 

*  He  obtained  access  to  Richardson. 


Mr.  19.]  BEGINS    CHINESE.  159 

English,  tho  Paradise  Lost  and  the  first  volume  of  Chitty 
on  Special  Pleading ;  in  German,  Ruth,  Esther  and  Jonah  ; 
and  in  Arabic,  all  the  historical  passages  of  the  Koran. 

The  months  of  November  and  December  were  occupied  in 
the  study  of  the  same  subjects,  with  this  addition — the  com- 
mencement of  the  study  of  Chinese;  as  appears  from  his  note 
under  Dec.  12. — "Learned  the  first  six  of  the  two  hundred 
and  fourteen  keys  ;  to  wit,  those  formed  by  a  single  stroke." 
Whether  he  continued  this  study  is  not  here  recorded.  He 
took  it  up  again  at  a  much  later  period,  and  prosecuted  it  far 
enough  to  understand  the  structure  and  genius  of  the  written 
language.  One  of  the  volumes  in  which  he  kept  his  first  diary 
in  Europe  is  marked  with  very  many  of  the  Chinese*  word 


signs. 


I  now  give  his  review  of  the  past  year: 

"  In  reviewing  the  memoranda  of  my  studies  during  the  year  1828 
contained  in  this  book,  the  first  circumstance  which  strikes  my  attention 
is  that  they  are  almost  exclusively  philological.  They  have,  perhaps, 
been  too  much  so;  but  I  do  not  regret  it  for  two  reasons : — 1.  My 
taste  is,  at  present,  strongly  inclined  toward  philological  pursuits  ;  if  I 
were  to  postpone  the  indulgence  of  it,  it  would  perhaps  change  its 
direction,  and  leave  me  unwilling,  and  therefore  unable  to  pursue 
philology  even  so  far  as  would  be  necessary.  2.  Languages  are  the 
keys  to  science,  philosophy,  literature,  history,  &c.  &c,  and  should  bo 
mastered  early.  The  languages  to  which  I  have  attended  during  the 
past  year  are — Hebrew,  Arabic,  Persian,  French,  Italian,  Spanish  and 
German."  t 

"  1.  Ilebrew.  I  have,  since  the  1st  of  January,  1828,  read  the  whole 
of  the  Old  Testament  in  the  original,  with  the  exception  of  the  book  of 
Genesis  and  eighteen  chapters  in  Exodus,  which  I  had  read  in  1827-1 
In  the  perusal  of  the  Hebrew  Bible,  I  have  not  been  very  strict  or  sys- 
tematic. I  have  freely  used  the  English  translation  as  an  auxiliary, 
and  have  seldom  resorted  to  the  grammar.     I  find,  however,  that  I 

*  The  reader  will  remember  that  it  was  this  language  which  threw  Mezzo- 
fauti  into  the  brain  fever,  that  caused  him  for  a  time  to  forget  all  his  tongues. 

f  He  for  some  reason  omits  to  catalogue  Syriac  and  Latin. 

\  This  seems  to  confirm  my  judgment  as  to  the  true  date  of  the  letter  to 
his  brother  respecting  the  "  Tears  of  Esau,"  etc.     See  above. 


160  RETROSPECT    OF    THE    YEAR.  n828. 

have  insensibly  acquired  that  sort  (not  degree)  of  familiarity  with  the 
language  which  we  get  of  our  own  tongue  by  colloquial  practice.  I 
caunot  run  through  the  paradigm  of  any  one  verb  perhaps,  correctly  ; 
but  I  recognize  the  individual  inflexions  when  I  meet  with  them,  and 
find  little  difficulty  in  translating  simple  sentences  from  the  English 
into  Hebrew.  But  although  this  mode  of  acquiring  the  knowledge  of 
a  language  is  the  most  agreeable,  and  perhaps  the  best  foundation  for 
subsequent  improvement,  I  feel  that  it  is  not,  in  itself,  sufficient.  I 
therefore  intend  to  accompany  my  second  reading  of  the  Bible  (which 
I  expect  to  commence  to-morrow)  with  an  attentive  study  of  Hebrew 
grammar ;  always  excepting  the  accentual  system,  which  I  design  to 
leave  untouched.  I  also  design  to  adopt  the  practice  of  writing  He- 
brew exercises ;  which  practice  I  have  found  exceedingly  improving  in 
French  and  other  languages.  I  am  surprised  that  this  is  neglected  by 
Hebrew  students,  since  the  exactness  of  our  English  version  furnishes 
the  greatest  facility  for  doing  it  with  pleasure  and  success.  [In  a  note 
to  this,  dated  Dec.  31,  1832,  he  says: — "I  afterwards  changed  my 
opinion  on  this  subject,  and  my  mode  of  study  too."]* 

"  2.  Arabic.  In  Arabic  I  have  read  during  the  past  year,  the  last 
ninety-six  Suras  of  the  Koran  ;  one  or  two  articles  in  De  Sacy's  Arabic 
Chrestomathy,  and  the  Gospel  of  Matthew  as  contained  in  Walton's 
Polyglot.  The  early  age  at  which  I  commenced  the  study  of  this 
language  (nine  or  ten),  and  the  almost  constant  attention  which  I  have 
given  to  it  since,  have  made  me  perhaps  as  familiar  with  its  genius 
and  construction  as  those  of  any  other  I  ever  studied.  It  is,  however, 
very  difficult  as  to  its  grammatical  forms  and  rules,  while  its  vocabulary 
is  like  an  ocean.  I  wish  to  pursue  it  further.  I  have  lately  copied  out 
of  the  Koran  all  the  historical  passages  upon  which  I  intend  to  write 
explanatory  notes,  and  add  a  glossary  and  compendious  grammar. 
The  exercise  will  be  useful  to  myself  and  may  enable  me  to  afford 
assistance  to  others. 

"  3.  Persian.  In  Persian  I  have  rea'l,  during  the  past  year,  the 
Gospels  of  John  and  Matthew  contained  in  "Walton's  Polyglot ;  about 
fifteen  tales  in  the  Tooti  Xameh,  or  Tales  of  a  Parrot,  and  sundry  parts 
of  the  Gulistan  of  Sadi.  Of  this  charming  language  I  am  passionately 
fond  ;"and  nothing  but  the  want  of  proper  and  necessary  books  pre- 
vents my  pursuing  it  extensively.  I  have  written  for  one  or  two,  but 
have  heard  nothing  yet  respecting  them. 

*  This  probably  refers  to  the  scheme  as  a  whole.  He  never  undervalued 
the  importance  of  writing  every  language  that  is  to  be  really  learned. 


.Et.19.]  MEMORANDA    OF    DR.    RICE.  161 

"4.  French.  I  have  been  accustomed  from  my  infancy  to  read 
French  books  without  a  dictionary,  and,  like  most  persons  who  have 
any  previous  acquaintance  with  the  Latin,  found  little  difficulty  in 
catching  the  general  idea,  in  ordinary  cases.  As  I  felt,  however,  that 
I  was  acquiring  a  pernicious  habit  of  superficial  study,  and  had  various 
reasons  for  desiring  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  language,  I  began  in 
January  the  study  of  the  grammatical  forms  and  rules,  which  I  mas- 
tered without  difficulty ;  and  have  since  read — Le  Telemaque  de  Fene- 
lon  ;  six  tragedies  and  une  comedie  de  Oorneille  ;  Toutes  les  comedies 
de  Moliere ;  Le  Siecle  de  Louis  XIV. ;  Le  Petit  Careme  de  Massillon  ; 
and  various  detached  articles  in  different  books.  Since  Dec.  1st,  I  have 
also  taken  lessons  from  M.  Louis  Hargous  of  Trenton,  a  Frenchman, 
educated  for  a  priest,  but  now  a  teacher  of  French  and  Spanish.  I  am 
already  sensible  of  the  advantages  arising  from  the  instructions  of  a 
living  teacher,  and  intend  to  continue  my  attendance  upon  him,  in  con- 
junction with  my  private  reading  of  the  best  authors."* 

It  is  unnecessary  to  make  further  selection,  as  the  rest 
of  this  retrospect  consists  merely  of  the  names  of  the  books 
he  read  in  Italian,  Spanish,  German,  English,  Greek  and 
Latin,  which  have  already  been  inscribed  on  these  pages. 

An  admirable  view  of  what  Mr.  Alexander  was  at  this 
period  of  his  private  and  social  relations,  may  be  obtained 
from  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  John  H. 
Rice,  D.  D.,  of  Mobile : 

"  I  saw  Addison  Alexander  for  the  first  time  in  July  1828.  I  was 
then  just  ten  years  old.  I  had  come  on  from  Petersburg,  Virginia,  in 
order  to  go  to  school  at  Amherst,  Massachusetts.  My  father,  mother 
and  elder  sister  accompanied  me.  We  came  to  Princeton  by  stage- 
coach from  Trenton,  and  stopped  at  Dr.  Alexander's,  where  we  spent 
several  weeks.  I  think  it  was  the  evening  of  the  day  of  our  arrival, 
that  I  met  Addison  on  the  back  porch  of  his  father's  house..  I  can 
recall  his  appearance  as  vividly  as  though  it  were  yesterday.  He  was 
unusually  fleshy,  as  he  continued  to  be  until  a  short  time  before  his 
lamented  death,  and  wore  at  that  time  the  glasses  which  continued  to 
be  a  necessity  fur  him  during  his  whole  life.  I  was  told  that  he  had 
lately  graduated  at  Princeton  College,  though  at  the  time  I  did  not, 

*  Mr.  Alexander  thought  a  great  deal  of  Mr.  Hargous,  and  they  were  much 
together ;  as  his  diaries  attest. 


162  OLD   BLACK   AND    PETER   AltUN.  [1828. 

know  what  that  meant.  He  was  then  the  same  shy,  diffident,  retiring 
person  that  he  was  in  after  life.  He  seemed  averse  to  going  into  the 
house,  where  his  strange  uncle  and  aunt  were;  but  I,  being  a  boy,  was 
running  about  the  house  everywhere  with  the  boys  who  were  a  little 
younger  than  myself.  Upon  going  out  upon  the  back  porch  I  found 
Addison  there.  He  greeted  me  cordially,  and  very  soon  began  to  tease 
me  about  Virginia,  my  provincial  dialect,  and  the  enormous  use  of  calo- 
mel which  he  affected,  to  believe  was  the  chief  article  of  the  diet  of  the 
eastern  Virginians.  I  had  heard  that  he  was  a  great  student  and  very 
learned,  and  at  first  was  a  little  afraid  of  one  who  was  then  regarded  as  a 
prodigy.  You  know  how  fond  he  was  of  children,  and  with  what  won- 
derful skill  he  would  entertain  them  for  hours  when  he  had  the  requi- 
site leisure.  I  had  been  but  a  day  or  two  at  Dr.  Alexander's,  when  I 
felt  as  familiar  with  Addison  as  though  he  had  been  a  boy  of  my  own 
age."  [He  was  a  few  months  past  nineteen.]  "  He  very  soon,  I  be- 
lieve it  was  the  second  or  third  evening  after  my  arrival,  began  to  tell 
me  his  celebrated  story  of  '  Old  Black,'  which  every  child  who  ever 
enjoyed  his  intimacy  will  remember.  It  kept  us  all  in  a  continuous 
roar  of  laughter,  so  that  I  often  rolled  over  the  floor  of  the  room  be- 
yond all  power  of  self-restraint ;  which  seemed  to  afford  him  a  great 
deal  of  quiet  amusement.  This  story  of  '  Old  Black,'  which  consisted 
of  a  series  of  ludicrous  mistakes  and  blunders  of  an  old  serving  woman, 
he  evidently  improvised,  inventing  the  incidents  as  he  related  them. 
These  alternated  with  a  similar  story  of  a  serving  man,  whom  he  called 
'Peter  Arun.'  He  also  took  occasion  of  our  intercourse  to  impart  in 
the  pleasantest  way  a  great  amount  of  valuable  information,  some  of 
which  I  retain  to  this  day.  Before  I  left  Princeton  he  presented  me 
with  my  Life,  printed  with  the  pen  in  a  number  of  small  volumes  neatly 
stitched  and  bound  in  blue  covers.  It  was  written  with  all  the  for- 
mality and  seriousness  of  an  actual  biography.  These  I  kept  with 
great  care  until  they  were  literally  worn  out.  You  know  how  chil- 
dren always  loved  him.  So  I  became  devotedly  attached  to  him  during 
the  few  delightful  weeks  that  I  spent  at  Princeton  in  the  summer  of 
1828,  weeks  made  delightful  chiefly  by  his  wonderful  skill  in  entertaining 
children.  I  left  Princeton  for  Amherst,  Mass.,  in  September.  Soon  after 
I  received  a  letter  from  Addison  written  on  folio  post  paper,  giving  me 
a  playful  account  of  everything  that  had  taken  place  in  Princeton  since 
my  departure.  He  continued  to  write  these  large  letters  to  me,  at  in- 
tervals, during  the  four  years  that  I  remained  at  Amherst.  Among 
them  were  several  which  seemed  to  me  then  to  be  the  most  wonderful 
productions  of  human  genius.    And  I  confess  that  they  still  appear  very 


^Et.19.]  THEIR   CHARACTERISTICS.  163 

extraordinary.  They  were  written  in  the  form  of  poetry  or  verse ;  and 
being  read  entirely  across  the  page,  were  in  verse  of  one  measure  and 
one  sense,  but  being  read  half-way  across,  made  poetry  of  another 
measure  and  the  opposite  sense.  With  him  such  a  performance  re- 
quired no  labour,  it  was  dashed  off  with  greater  ease  than  I  can 
scribble  these  recollections.  I  kept  all  these  letters  with  affectionate 
care,  but  in  the  lapse  of  time  and  my  many  interruptions,  they  have 
disappeared.  They  would  be  worth  to  me  now  more  than  their  weight 
in  gold.     They  were  all  written  on  the  largest  sized  folio  post  paper." 

The  above  sketch  presents  a  true  picture  of  Mr.  Alexander 
as  he  appeared  to  me  when  I  was  a  boy ;  though  as  has  already 
been  said,  he  never  appeared  to  any  two  persons  in  precisely 
the  same  wray.  There  was  doubtless,  too,  a  greater  efferves- 
cence of  youthful  spirits  at  the  time  referred  to  by  Dr.  Rice  than 
at  any  time  within  my  own  recollection.  The  story  of  "  Old 
Black"  has  been  graven  upon  my  memory  with  a  pen  of  iron. 
I  have  heard  it  in  one  or  other  of  its  innumerable  variations  a 
hundred  times.  It  is  given  in  full,  in  one  of  its  forms,  in  "  Wis- 
tar's  Magazine ;"  which  was  the  most  elaborate  and  curious  of 
all  the  works  he  prepared  for  children.  The  story  of  "  Peter 
Arun  "  was  of  a  somewhat  higher  grade,  and  passed  through 
full  as  many  transformations.  Old  Black  bore  a  shadowy 
resemblance  to  Mrs.  Malaprop,  and  the  whole  thing  was  in 
a  style  of  broad  farce.  As  printed  with  the  pen,  it  is  given 
in  the  form  of  a  dialogue  between  Old  Black  and  Mrs.  Bald. 
The  two  chai-acters  are  as  distinctly  drawn  as  those  of  Dickens 
or  Fielding,  and  are  natural  and  unexaggerated  like  those  of 
Goldsmith.  The  characteristic  of  Peter  Arun  was  shrewd 
mother  wit  combined  with  a  sort  of  hilarious  insouciance, 
which  ventured  to  the  most  reckless  lengths,  yet  without  a 
particle  of  fear,  without  real  malice,  with  imperturbable 
sang-froid,  and  with  no  serious  ill  consequences.  Seldom 
was  a  character  better  sustained  or  managed  with  more 
adroitness  or  humour.  Peter's  repartee  is  as  poignant  as  it 
is  endless.  The  "  Wistar's  Magazine "  contains  the  corre- 
spondence between  Mr.  Arun  and  a  gentleman  whom  he  had 
wilfully  but  in  perfect  good  humour  offended,  and  whom  he 


104  JOHNSON,    CROW,    LANE.  [1828. 

liad  provoked  to  a  challenge.  It  is  a  ridiculous  burlesque  on 
the  duello  and  the  code  of  honoui',  and  in  point  of  rich,  intel- 
lectual, mirthfulness  deserves  a  comparison  with  some  of  the 
best  parts  of  "  Le  Bourgeois  Gentilhomme."  Another  of  his 
famous  stories  was  "  Linn  Lane,"  and  still  another,  "  Wick- 
lifie,  Johnson,  Crow,  and  Lane."  These  were  delivered  orally 
and  were  indefinitely  varied  to  suit  the  character  of  the  cir- 
cumstances and  of  the  auditors.  They  were  chief  favourites 
with  the  younger  children,  and  have  seldom  if  ever  been  sur- 
passed by  the  most  renowned  caterers  for  the  little  boys  and 
girls.  They  were  as  original  and  showed  genius  as  plainly 
and  decidedly  as  his  lectures  in  the  seminary.  Linn  Lane  was 
sometimes  introduced  alone :  sometimes  in  company  with 
W.  J.  and  C.  He  had  a  voice  that  still  rings  in  my  ears,  and 
that  was  as  inimitably  peculiar  and  laughable  as  some  of  the 
cries  of  the  parrot.  Sometimes  it  was  Linn  Lane  among  the 
Indians  :  sometimes  it  was  Linn  Lane  at  school :  sometimes  it 
was  the  incorrigible  little  wag  and  mischief-maker  following 
and  with  his  comrades  mocking  the  unfortunate  Wickliffe, 
who  had  a  squeaking  voice.  When  the  bass  tones  of  Johnson 
were  mingled  with  the  bland  tenor  of  Crow,  the  shrill  pipe  of 
poor  Wickliffe,  and  the  forever  indescribable  quavering  out- 
cry of  Lane,  all  uttering  the  same  words,  and  all  but  one  of 
the  performers  uttering  them  in  the  way  of  gibe  and  mockery ; 
the  effect  was  sometimes  perfectly  irresistible.  It  was  often  a 
wild  burst  of  laughter,  a  chorus  of  shouts,  and  a  series  of  de- 
lighted childish  questions.  The  result  was  in  part  a  triumph 
of  ventriloquism,  or  at  least  of  histrionic  mimicry,  in  which 
the  face  and  throat  were  changed  to  meet  every  emergency. 
Sometimes  the  raconteur  would  laugh  himself  in  a  quick  un- 
controllable way,  as  if  the  fun  of  the  thing  had  just  struck 
him  for  the  first  time.  More  commonly,  however,  he  was  per- 
fectly grave,  and  only  showed  his  interest  in  what  was  going 
on  by  the  animation  with  which  he  told  his  tale. 

The  year  1829  was  entered  upon  with  the  same  studies 
which  occupied  his  mind  during  the  preceding.  Particular 
attention  Avas  paid  to  the  Greek.     We  shall  still  find  him 


.Et.19.]  READING   FOR   THE   DAY.  165 

going  to  foundation  principles ;  mastering  all  the  grammars 
he  can  lay  his  hands  upon,  and  reading  critically  all  the  best 
Greek  authors.     He  also  acquired  the  modern  Greek. 

Specimens  of  the  diary,  showing  the  way  in  which  he 
spent  his  time  at  this  period,  may  not  be  considered  out  of 
place  here,  and  will  be  read  without  weariness  by  a  large  class 
of  book-lovers,  and  students  of  strange  biography. 

"Jan.  14.  After  breakfast  went  to  consult  Prof.  Hodge  about  a 
proofsheet  of  the  Repertory,  and  remained  there  in  conversation  till 
11  :  then  returned  and  read  the  twenty -first  chapter  of  Genesis  in 
Hebrew ;  then  read  a  review  of  Gieseler's  Kirchengeschichte  in  the 
Studien  und  Kritiken  of  Hamburg,  written  by  himself ;  then  removed 
my  book-case  and  a  number  of  my  hooks  from  my  chamber  above 
stairs  to  the  dining-room  below ;  then  read  the  general  catalogue  of 
the  Seminary  just  published,  and  looked  at  the  National  Gazette  of 
yesterday  ;  then  glanced  at  the  British  Critic  for  July  1828 — particu- 
larly at  the  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  two  Universities  ;  then 
glanced  at  Ewald's  book  on  Arabic  Prosody  ;  then  read  the  preface  to 
RosenmUller's  Arabic  grammar ;  then  wrote  an  abstract  of  Gieseler's 
article  aforesaid,  to  be  inserted  in  the  Repertory ;  then  read  the  27th 
chapter  of  Isaiab  in  Hebrew  ;  then  read  a  part  of  chapter  five  in 
De  Sacy's  Arabic  grammar ;  comparing  it  with  Rosenmuller's,  which 
appears  to  be  a  translation  of  De  Sacy;  then  read  the  28th  chapter  of 
Isaiab  ;  then  wrote  a  foolscap-sbeet  of  French  exercises  ;  and  then — 
to  bed." 

Another  specimen  is  from  the  journal  of  the  next  day  : 

"  Jan.  15.  Read  a  part  of  the  29th  chapter  of  Isaiah  in  Hebrew ; 
the  4th  chapter  of  Louis  XV. ;  the  4th  chapter  of  the  2d  section  of 
Condillac's  Essai  sur  les  Connaissances  humaines,  in  French,  and  the 
12th  chapter  of  Don  Quixote  in  Spanish ;  then  wrote  the  6th  and  7th 
exercises  in  Josse's  Spanish  grammar ;  then  read  about  a  hundred  lines 
in  the  Clouds  of  Aristophanes;  then  read  about  the  same  number  in 
Chaucer's  Canterbury  Tales ;  then  went  to  the  Philological  Hall,  to 
attend  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Criticism  of  the  Philological  Society, 
and  received  from  the  President  an  anonymous  translation  of  Horace's 
Book  1.,  ode  22,  to  criticise.  Read  in  the. Hall  the  14th  canto  of 
Dante's  '  Inferno,'  and  finished  the  article  on  Arabian  Literature  in 
the  Foreign   Quarterly  Review ;   returned  home   and  examined  the 


166  ARISTOPHANES    AND    SHAKESPEARE.  [1829. 

anonymous  translation  aforesaid,  rioting  down  some  observations  on 
the  same ;  then  read  a  review  of  Hase's  Dogmatik  and  Gnosis  in 
the  Theologische  Studien  ;  then  read  the  remainder  of  Isaiah  29  in 
Hebrew  ;  then  read  De  Sacy's  Arabic  grammar ;  then  read  Shak- 
speare ;  then  read  Genesis  22,  23,  in  Hebrew ;  then  wrote  a  sheet  of 
French  exercises — and  to  bed." 

I  find,  under  date  of  Feb.  10,  1829,  in  a  detached  fragment, 
in  the  shape  of  a  little  manuscript  book,  in  Mr.  Alexander's 
early  hand,  the  following  critique  upon  the  two  dramatists 
mentioned  above : 

"I  have  finished  the  famous  Clouds  of  Aristophanes,  but  can 
scarcely  say  what  my  feelings  and  opinions  are  as  I  close  the  book. 
Such  a  combination  of  extremes,  intellectual  and  moral,  I  have  never 
before  known.  Such  transitions  from  earth  to  heaven,  from  Parnassus 
to  the  dunghill,  are  to  me  new  and  startling.  Shakespeare  is  unequal, 
but  his  inequalities  are  nothing  to  the  fits  and  starts  of  Aristophanes. 
The  English  poet  never  dives  so  deep  into  pollution,  nor  rises,  in  point 
of  artificial  elegance,  so  high  a?  the  Athenian.  Shakespeare's  genius  is 
obviously  untutored.  His  excellences  and  his  faults  are  perhaps  equal- 
ly attributable  to  his  want  of  education.  It  is  altogether  probable  that 
many  of  these  original  and  most  significant  and  poetic  modesof  expres- 
sion which  he  has  introduced  into  our  language,  arose  entirely  from 
his  ignorance  of  grammar  and  of  foreign  tongues.  Had  he  been  fa- 
miliar with  technical  distinctions  and  etymological  analogies,  his 
thoughts  would  have  been  distracted  between  words  and  things.  The 
dread  of  committing  solecisms,  and  the  ambition  to  exhibit  that  sort  of 
elegance  which  results  from  the  formal  rules  of  an  artificial  rhetoric, 
would  have  cooled  his  ardour.  His  '  muse  of  fire  '  would  never  have 
reached  '  the  heaven  of  invention,'  but  would  have  stayed  its  flight 
amidst  the  clouds  and  mists  of  puerile  conceit.  I  never  read  any  of 
Shakespeare's  real  poetry  (for  much  of  his  verse  is  most  bald  prosing) 
without  feeling,  in  my  very  soul,  that  no  man  could  write  thus,  whose 
heart  was  fixed  on  propriety  of  diction,  as  a  principal  or  even  a  second- 
ary object.  He  seems  to  have  let  his  imagination  boil,  and  actually  to 
have  taken  the  first  words  which  bubbled  up  from  its  ebullition. 
Hence  his  strange  revolt,  from  authority  in  the  use  of  ordinary  words 
[in  senses]  as  far  removed  from  common  practice  as  from  etymology. 
And  that  reminds  me  of  another  circumstance.  In  the  common  blank 
verse  of  his  dialogue,  not  only  is  he  habitually  careless,  but  seems  not 


J2t.19.]  ARISTOPHANES    AND    SHAKESPEARE.  167 

to  know  (in  many  cases)  the  method  of  constructing  a  harmonious  verse ; 
and  perhaps  his  broken  measure  is  more  dramatic  than  one  smoother 
would  be;  certainly  more  so  than  the  intolerable  tintinnabulum  of  the 
Theatre  Francais.     But  let  him  rise  into  one  of  his  grand  flights,  and 
his  numbers  are  as  musical  as  the  '  harp  of  Orpheus.'     I  defy  any  man 
to  bring  forward  any  specimen  of  heroic  blank  verse,  where  the  rhythm 
is  as  melodious  as  in  some  passages  of  Shakespeare,  and  the  sense  at 
the  same  time  within  sight — I  mean  comparably  good  in  any  degree. 
Milton,  you  say,  &c.    But  who  can  read  the  Paradise  Lost  without  think- 
ing of  the  square  and  compass  ?     Even  when  we  admire,  Ave  admire 
scientifically — we  applaud  the  arrangement  of  the  caBsuras  and  pauses, 
and  are  forever  thinking  of  iambuses  and  trochees  and  hypercatalectics, 
and  all  the  hard  words  that  Milton  himself  would  have  dealt  forth  in 
lecturing  upon  his  own  versification.      Whereas,  I  do  verily  believe, 
that  Shakespeare  knew  no  more  of  Prosody,  than  of  Animal  Magnet- 
ism or  Phrenology.     Thompson,  again,  is  among  our  finest  specimens 
of  rich  and  musical  blank  verse,  but  Thompson  is  laboured  too ;  not  in 
Milton's  way,  by  weight  and  measure,  but  in  a  way  no  less  artificial 
and  discernible.     He  is  always  labouring  to  make  his  lines  flow  with 
a  luscious  sweetness :  Every  body  knows  that  he  succeeds,  but  every 
body,  alas,  knows  how.     He  does  it  by  presenting  words  in  profusion, 
which  are  at  once  dulcet  to  the  ear  and  exciting  to  the  imagination. 
The  method  is  the  only  true  one,  but  he  carries  it  too  far.     One  strong 
proof  that  Shakespeare  was  a  genius  and  a  unique  one,  is  that  his  ex- 
cellence is  not  sustained  and  equal.     Moonlight  and  candlelight  shed  a 
uniform  lustre,  but  who  ever  saw  or  heard  of  a  continuous  flash  of 
lightning  ?     Our  bard  trifles  and  proses  and  quibbles,  and  whines  (but 
always  without  affectation)  till  something  (whether  accident  or  not  I 
cannot   tell)  strikes   a  spark   into   his   combustible   imagination,  and 
straightway,  he  is  in  a  blaze.     I  think  a  good  rocket  is  a  capital  illus- 
tration of  his  muse  of  fire.    First  we  have  a  premonitory  whiz — then  a 
delicate  but  gorgeous  column  of  brilliant  scintillations,  stretching  away 
into  the  bosom  of  heaven  and  at  last  dying  away  in  a  shower  of  mimic 
stars  and  comets  of  tenfold — of  transcendent  brightness.     What  then  ? 
Why  then  comes  darkness  visible,  or  at  best  a  beggarly -gray  twilight. 
But  in  talking  thus  to  myself,  I  forget  what  I  am  about,     I  began  with 
Aristophanes,  and  have  been  raving  about  Shakespeare.    All  I  have  to 
say,  however,  about  the  former,  is,  that  he  is  a  perfect  contrast  to  the 
Englishman.     He  is  evidently  a  master  of  the  art  of  versifying,  but  he 
knows  how  to  temper  the  formality  of  systematic  elegance  with  the 
charm  of  native  poetry.     Compared  with   the  Greek  tragedians,  his 


168  ENGLISH    METAPHYSICS.  [1829. 

flights  of  choral  and  lyrical  inspiration  appear  to  great  advantage.  More 
coherent  and  intelligible  than  iEschylus,  more  vigorous  and  nervous 
and  significant  than  Sophocles,  more  natural  and  spirited  than  Euri- 
pides; he  notwithstanding  excels  them  all  in  the  music  of  his  numbers, 
and  the  Attic  purity  and  terseness  of  his  diction." 

No  one  can  pursue  these  records  far  without  acknowledg- 
ing the  astonishing  industry  and  versatility  of  the  stripling 
scholar.  And  then  the  effrontery  with  which  he  marches  up 
to  a  new  language  with  which  perhaps  few  of  his  seniors  are 
at  all  acquainted,  is  fairly  startling.  His  taste  in  letters,  too, 
is  peculiar  certainly,  but  also  at  once  robust  and  refined. 

"Feb.  17. — The  historical  style  of  the  Arabs  is  very  curious.  It 
varies  indeed,  in  different  cases.  Some  of  their  histories  are  florid, 
inflated,  and  verbose.  Others,  and,  I  suspect,  the  great  majority,  are 
hasty,  confused  and  crude  enumerations  of  heterogeneous  facts.  I  was 
amused  in  looking  over  some  of  the  historical  facts  in  De  Sacy,  to 
observe  the  exquisite  taste  exhibited  in  the  arrangement  and  enumera- 
tion of  events ;  e.  g.  Makrizi  says,  speaking  of  Hakem,  the  Imaum  of 
the  Fatemists,  'lie  commanded  that  all  dogs  should  be  killed,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  a  multitude  were  put  to  death.  He  founded  a  col- 
lege called  the  "  House  of  Wisdom,"  to  which  lie  transferred  the  royal 
library.  He  was  very  cruel  to  his  running  footmen ;  and  a  number  of 
them  he  put  to  death.'  What  a  circumfleetive  climax,  pour  ainsi 
dire  ?     Dead  dogs — colleges — libraries — running  footmen  !  " 

His  notions  about  the  literature  of  English  metaphysics 
are  fresh  and  unusual,  but  not  ignorant. 

"Read  the  5th  and  6th  chapters  of  Brown's  Lectures  on  the  philoso- 
phy of  the  human  mind.  The  first  four  I  read  last  summer,  and  was 
then  disgusted  with  the  book.  I  know  the  reason;  for  reading  Stew- 
art's Philosophy  just  before,  I  had  been  drawn  off  from  that  elegant 
writer's  statements  to  his  style,  which,  in  my  opinion,  merits  well  to 
be  regarded  as  a  model  of  purity,  elegance,  and  perspicuity.  When  I 
took  up  Brown,  I  judged  him  rather  rhetorically  than  philosophically  ; 
and  finding  his  sentences  (though  full  of  meaning)  to  be  long,  involved, 
sometimes  obscure,  and  often  awkward,  I  grew  tired  of  him.  On  this 
second  trial  I  view  him  with  other  eyes.  I  can  recognize  at  once,  the 
fire  of  genius  and  strength  of  intellect.     I  should  imagine  that  the 


^ir.  19.]  BROWN'S    LECTURES.  169 

lectures  were  posthumous,  and  published  as  he  pronounced  them.  A 
good  delivery  might  have  made  them  captivating,  and  perhaps  they 
were  so.*  On  paper  they  are  not  so  well,  in  point  of  style.  There  are 
too  many  parenthetical  expressions,  and  some  excessively  intelligible 
explanations  of  his  meaning,  which,  however  useful  and  necessary  in 
the  lecture-room,  or  when  orally  delivered,  the  author's  task  would 
have  curtailed  in  revising  for  the  press.  As  to  matter,  though  met- 
aphysics is  a  terra  incognita  to  me,  I  can  readily  perceive  he  shows 
power  and  skill  in  drawing  nice  but  strong  distinctions  and  detecting 
latent  fallacies." 

The  next  day  he  writes  thus  of  Brown  : 

"  He  is  a  wonderful  man,  it  must  be  owned.  For  length  of  sen- 
tences and  fulness  of  illustration — rather,  of  explanation — he  is  remark- 
able. He  holds  up  an  idea  in  all  imaginable  points  of  view,  and  never 
seem^  satisfied  till  he  has  exhausted  all  explanatory  ideas  and  ex- 
pressions. But  he  never  loses  nor  forgets  himself;  and,  what  above 
all  pleases  me,  he  never  cants,  i.  e.  he  never  uses  phra?es  just  because 
other  philosophers  have  used  them,  though  they  may  mean  any  thing 
or  nothing  quoad  hoc.  As  to  his  doctrine  of  Cause  and  Effect,  it 
sounds  well  and  seems  true ;  but  I  am  not  satisfied.  He  seems  to  deny, 
though  not  directly,  that  we  can  conceive  of  any  power  or  causation, 
except  immediate  invariable  antecedence.  Now  I  certainly  can  con- 
ceive of  a  power  which  has  never  yet  been  exercised,  and  which,  per- 
haps, never  will  be. 

"I  admire  Brown's  ease  and  vivacity,  especially  as  it  exists  in  com- 
bination with  so  much  depth  and  penetration.  There  is  no  scholastic 
stiffness,  nor  repulsive  technicality  about  the  annunciation  of  his  most 
important  doctrines.  And  what  other  metaphysician  since  the  world 
began  would  have  quoted  Gulliver  and  Martinus  Scriblerus?  This 
marks  the  man  of  taste,  judgment,  and  independent  spirit.  An  inferior 
writer  would  have  been  afraid  of  lowering  his  subject  by  citing  such 
authorities.  The  true  philospher  takes  a  just  idea  of  a  striking  illustra- 
tion, even  from  the  mouth  of  a  buffoon." 

I  find  him  next  engaged  with  Dante.     About  the  middle 

*  Everybody  is  of  course  familiar  now  with  the  enthusiasm  they  awakened 
at  the  time,  and  with  the  fact  that  ttjey  were  commonly  dashed  off  in  a  heat, 
the  night  before. 
8 


170  DANTE    AND    SPENSER.  [1829. 

of  February  he  was  occupied  reading  the  Purgatorio.     Here 
are  some  of  his  remarks  iu  the  way  of  comment : 

"Feb.  19. — This  part  of  the  Divina  Commedia  begins  with  a  met- 
aphor in  which  the  poem  is  represented  as  a  ship  and  the  subject  as 
the  sea  upon  which  it  sails.  I  felt  a  good  deal  relieved  on  finding  that 
he  calls  the  argument  of  this  second  part  miglior  aequo,  in  comparison 
with  the  preceding  one.  I  feel  now  more  than  I  did  when  actually 
reading  the  Inferno,  that  the  poetry  of  Dante,  like  all  truly  original 
composition,  produces  an  original — I  mem,  peculiar  and  unique  impres- 
sion on  i he  mind.  His  conceptions  of  Hell,  revolting  as  some  of  them 
appeared  (I  mean  poetically  revolting  to  the  taste  and  judgment)  have 
left  their  trnces  on  my  memory  and  fancy  more  strongly  than  the 
refined  but  less  substantial  and  tangible  creations  of  Milton's  genius. 
The  Purgatorio  opens  where  the  Inferno  ended,  at  the  exit  of  the  poet 
from  the  infernal  regions.  I  mu-t  confess  that  I  have  no  precise  idea 
respecting  the  locality  of  the  aperture;  though  Dante  described  it,  or 
intended  to  describe  it,  with  becoming  accuracy.  For,  of  all  poets, 
past  and  present,  he  is  the  most  trigonometrical  that  I  have  ever  met 
with." 

To  show  still  further  his  versatility,  I  give  another  record 
made  on  the  same  day  : 

"Read  the  4th  Canto  of  the  Faery  Queen.  I  cannot  but  admire, 
more  and  more,  Spenser's  wonderful  descriptive  talent.  His  pictures 
of  the  six  passions,  in  this  canto,  exceed  in  vividness  and  truth  any 
description  that  I  have  ever  read,  without  exception.  I  begin  now  to 
suspect  that  Spenser's  forte  was  in  describing  loathsome  objects,  and  he 
certainly  does  it  with  a  master  hand.  I  feel  his  excellence  the  more 
on  comp:;r'son  with  Dante.  I  may,  through  ignorance,  do  the  Italian 
bard  injustice,  but  it  does  appear  to  me  that  he  was  deficient  in  a  talent 
wiiich  Spenser  possesses  in  a  sirgular  degree — the  talent  for  discrim- 
inating and  appropriate  description.  How  striking  is  the  adaptation 
of  the  six  beasts  to  the  character  of  their  respective  riders  themselves. 
A  few  characteristic  traits  and  circumstances  are  selected  as  the  prom- 
inent features  of  each  portrait,  and  are  exhibited  in  strong  relief,  with- 
out the  aid  of  vague  generaliiies  and  cant  terms.  1  can  actually  see 
Sloth  'still  drowned  in  sleep  and  most  of  his  days  dead,'  nodding  along 
upon  his  ass; — Gluttony,  sweating  and  vomiting  upon  his  swine; — 
Lechery,  suffering  the  reproachful  pain  of  that  foul  evil,  'that  rots 


Mr.  19.]  SCOTT'S    NAPOLEON.  171 

the  marrow  and  consumes  the  brain ; ' — Avarice,  counting  o'er  his 
pelf;  and,  above  all,  Envy,  with  a  snake  in  his  bosom  and  a  toad  be- 
tween his  teeth,  'the  poison  running  all  about  his  jaw,'  weeping  that 
cause  of  weeping  one  he  had ;  but  when  he  hears  of  harm,  waxing 
wondrous  glad.  I  forgot  Anger.  That  picture  too  is  very  fine,  espe- 
cially the  redeeming  and  afflictive  circumstance  thrown  into  the  de- 
scription. The  poet  goes  as  far  as  nature  goes  and  no  further.  He 
does  not  unite  a  fierce  and  irritable,  with  a  cold-blooded  and  deliberate 
malignity  (traits  seldom,  if  ever,  actually  found  in  combination),  but 
with  exquisite  truth  and  knowledge  of  the  heart,  after  telling  us  tbat 
'  of  his  hands  he  had  no  government,  ne  cared  for  blood  in  his  avenge- 
ment,'  adds,  that  'when  the  furious  fit  was  overpast,  his  cruel  facts  he 
often  would  repent.' " 

"Feb.  20.  Eead  Isaiah  54,  and  Genesis  43  in  Hebrew.  At  the 
Philological  Hall,  read  the  3d  and  4th  cantos  of  Purgatorio  ;  also  ex- 
amined Kennicott's  Hebrew  Bible  and  "Wetstein's  Greek  Testament. 
I  wish  they  were  both  upon  my  table.  [The  books  from  this  library 
could  not  be  taken  away.]  Tbe  former  is  a  noble  work.  After  read- 
ing the  Hebrew  Bible  with  the  points,  I  find  it  much  more  agreeable  to 
read  without  them.  In  the  historical  parts  I  can  supply  most  of  the 
points  which  affect  the  etymology,  and  the  whole  seems  much  more 
neat  and  simple  without  such  a  multiplicity  of  marks. 

"  At  home  again  ;  wrote  the  25th  exercise  in  Josse's  Spanish  gram- 
mar. Finished  the  3d  chapter  of  Levizac's  Grammaire  Francaise. 
Read  the  first  chapter  of  Voltaire's  Histoire  de  l'Empire  de  Russie  sous 
Pierre  le  Grand.  Finished  the  2d  chapter  of  Home.  Finished  the 
extracts  from  the  books  of  the  Druses.  Read  the  33d  chapter  of 
Scott's  Napoleon.  Notwithstanding  the  literary  faultiness  of  this 
book,  there  is  much  that  is  valuable  in  it.  The  nature  of  the  subject 
makes  it  interesting,  malgr6  lui,  and  the  good  sense  and  acute  observa- 
tion of  the  author,  make  it  frequently  instructive.  His  reflections, 
particularly  those  derived  incidentally  from  individual  facts,  are  often 
worthy  of  preservation.  No  attributes  can  contribute  more  to  the  pop- 
ularity of  a  new  government  than  an  appearance  of  conscious  strength 
combined  with  clemency;  since  the  spirit  of  opposition,  despairing  of 
success  but  not  of  personal  safety,  gradually  sinks  into  acquiescence. 
As  a  specimen  of  style,  it  does  "Walter  Scott  no  honour.  His  phrase- 
ology is  often  rendered  vulgar  by  excessive  straining  after  classical 
simplicity  and  colloquial  ease.  He  is  sometimes  ungrammatieal  and 
frequently  inelegant.  But  nothing  disgusts  me  more,  than  the  frequency 
and  stiffness  of  his  similes  and  illustrations,  which,  however  well  they 


172  SCOTTS    STYLE.  [1829. 

might  appear  in  an  epic  poem,  or  even  in  a  higher  species  of  romance, 
are  too  recherche  and  affected  for  a  work  like  this.  In  a  word,  they 
are  too  good.  I  ob-erve,  too,  a  disposition  similar  to  that  of  Brown,  to 
borrow  illustration  from  works  of  burlesque  humour.  But  oh,  how 
far  different  the  modus  operandi !  There  is  no  work  of  a  historical 
description,  which  exhibits  such  a  multitude  of  striking,  ingenious,  but 
unreasonable  illustrations,  as  this  of  Scott's — always  excepting  Tom 
Moore's  Life  of  Sheridan,  which  may  be  regarded  a=i  a  perfect  model 
of  the  far-fetched,  pretty  style,  and  John  Q.  Adams's  Ebony  and  Topaz 
toast,  which,  sonorous  as  it  was,  is  a  sealed  book,  I  believe,  even  unto 
this  day.  My  impression,  on  the  whole,  is  that  Scott  wrote  mainly  in 
the  hope  of  reward ;  which  accounts  for  the  crudeness  and  rudeness  of 
the  composition;  unwisely  availing  himself,  however,  of  the  oppor- 
tunity to  surfeit  the  public  with  a  profusion  of  good  snyings,  which  if 
retained  in  his  commonplace  book  might  have  eked  out  a  thousand 
dialogues  in  a  hundred  new  Waverleys  to  come." 

"  Feb.  23.  Read  ten  sections  in  the  first  book  of  '  Cicero's  Aca- 
demical Questions.1 — My  dabblings  in  the  modern  and  oriental  langua- 
ges must  have  vitiated  my  t.iste  most  lamentably ;  for  I  protest  that 
this  Ciceronian  Latin  is  to  my  eyes,  ears  and  understanding  the  most 
lumbering,  clumsy,  formal  style  imaginable.  Every  thing  seems  elabor- 
ate and  artificial ;  the  terms  and  expre-sions  that  are  meant  to  be 
most  colloquial  and  familiar,  are  so  studied  and  distorted,  and  the 
inversions  are  so  wilful,  wanton,  and  grotesque,  that  I  liave  no  patience 
with  the  thing  at  all.  How  is  it,  and  why  is  it  that  the  Latin  verse  of 
Virgil,  and  especially  of  Horace,  is  much  more  natural  and  easy,  and 
consequently  so  much  nearer  the  language  of  common  life,  than  the 
Latin  prose  of  Cicero  ?  Why,  becausa  neither  Horace  nor  Virgil  was 
a  conceited,  affected,  pedantic,  pompous,  egotistical,  verbose,  jack-of- 
all-trades." 

He  had  now  become  sufficiently  familiar  with,  the  Hebrew 
to  be  able  to  distinguish  and  appreciate  the  styles  of  the  dif- 
ferent Bible  writers.  His  observations  on  this  head  will  be 
found  to  possess  a  fascinating  and  even  popular  interest : 

"  March  4.  Read  in  Hebrew  the  3d  chapters  of  Exodus  and  Jere- 
miah. I  can  now  perceive  distinctly  the  diversity  of  style  in  the 
Hebrew  Scriptures.  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah  are  as  unlike  as  any  two 
classical  or  modern  poets.  The  genius  of  the  former  is  characterized 
by  vigour,  elevation  and  impetuosity.     He  deals  much  in  animated  ex- 


,Et.19.]  PERSIAN   NEW   TESTAMENT.  173 

hortation  and  severe  invective.  Jeremiah  on  the  other  hand  is  calmer 
and  more  equable.  There  seems  to  be  a  vein  of  melancholy  running 
through  his  composition.  One  thing  is  common  to  them  both,  as  it  is 
indeed  to  all  oriental  writers  ;  a  figurative  mode  of  expression.  Even 
in  this,  however,  they  are  different.  Isaiah's  metaphors  are  lively  and 
animated;  those  of  Jeremiah  more  subdued:  both  are  graphic  and  im- 
pressive. I  prefer  the  Pentateuch  to  any  other  book,  as  a  genuine 
specimen  of  primitive,  unsophisticated  simplicity  of  style.  There  is 
nothing  puerile  on  the  one  hand,  nor  inflated  on  the  other.  The 
exodus  of  the  Israelites  from  Egypt  is  one  of  the  finest  subjects  in  the 
world  for  an  epic  poem." 

"April  18.  Read  in  Hebrew,  Exodus  and  Jeremiah  xxxv.  Looked 
through  Jorton's  Life  of  Erasmus. — Rezeau  Brown*  returned  to-day 
from  New  Haven,  after  an  absence  of  ten  days.  He  brings  as  curiosi- 
ties two  Arabic  letters  written  in  Syria,  and  brought  over  by  Mr. 
Brewer  as  waste  paper.  They  are  apparently  addressed  to  a  Mr.  Bird. 
I  am  surprised  to  find  the  hand  so  much  like  my  own.  With  a  little 
practice,  and  a  good  pen,  I  could  equal  it — I  think.  Be  has  also  brought 
Henry  Martyn's  Persian  Testament,  borrowed  from  Professor  Gibbs  of 
Yale.  I  have  long  wished  to  see  this  book,  and  am  delighted  to  obtain 
it.  I  have  no  printed  Persian  books,  and  should  prefer  aversion  of  the 
Bible ;  because  with  my  familiarity  with  its  content^,  and,  in  some 
measure,  with  the  original,  I  can  gather  more  instruction  from  it  than 
from  any  other  book.  The  Polyglots,  it  is  true,  contain  Persian  ver- 
sions ;  but  their  purity  and  correctness,  are,  to  say  the  least,  equivocal. 
Now  Martyn's  version  has  been  made  within  the  last  twenty  years, 
and  in  circumstances  which  afford  good  ground  for  the  presumption 
that  it. is  a  good  one.  1st.  Martyn  was  a  man  of  genius  and  a  scholar; 
an  upright  man  and  devoted  to  his  work.  2d.  Ho  had  previously  fin- 
ished a  version  with  great  labour  which  was  thought  too  Arabic  (his 
assistant  having  been  an  Arab)  whereupon  he  instantly  resolved  to  re- 
commence the  task.  From  this  circumstance  I  infer,  1st,  that  his 
whole  soul  was  in  the  thing,  which  ensures  fidelity  and  accuracy ;  2d, 
that  although  his  first  translation  was  imperfect,  it  must  have  qualified 
him  for  the  second,  in  a  very  great  degree  ;  3d,  this  version  was  pre- 
pared at  Shiraz  which  has  been  called  'the  Athens  of  Persia,'  where 
the  purest  Persian  is  spoken, — and  with  the  ass:stance  of  an  intelligent, 
refined  and  educated  native ;  4th,  it  was  read  before  the  Shah,  wTho 
signified  his  approbation  of  its  execution.     It  has  also  been  approved 

*  His  bosom  friend,  of  whom  we  shall  know  more  presently. 


174  GREEK   WRITERS.  [1829. 

by  many  of  the  Persian  literati.  The  first  edition  of  this  translation 
was  printed  at  St.  Petersburg,  soon  after  Martyn's  death.  This  im- 
pression, I  have  seen  it  somewhere  mentioned,  abounded  in  errors  of 
the  press  which  rendered  it  not  only  partly  unintelligible,  but  in  some 
cases  even  blasphemous.  Even  this  edition  I  should  have  been  pleased 
to  see,  though  it  would  not  have  answered  all  my  ends.  I  am  pleased 
to  find,  however,  that  the  one  before  me  is  a  Calcutta  edition  of  later 
date.  Persian  literature  is  so  zealously  and  thoroughly  pursued  at  the 
metropolis  of  British  India,  and  the  latter  has  given  to  the  world  so 
many  valuable  impressions  of  oriental  works,  that  I  feel  little  doubt 
that  this  book,  though  by  no  means  elegant,  is  perfectly  correct.  It  is 
an  octavo  of  741  pages,  with  the  following  title-page  in  English  :  'The 
New  Testament  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  Translated  from 
the  original  Greek  into  Persian,  at  Shiraz,  by  the  Eev.  Henry  Martyn, 
A.  B.  Late  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College,  and  chaplain  on  the  Bengal 
Establishment ;  with  the  assistance  of  Meerza  Sueyed  Ulee  (Mirza  Seid 
Ali)  of  Sheeraz,  Calcutta:  Printed  by  P.  Pereira,  at  the  Hindoostanee 
Press  for  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  the  year  1816.'  The 
leaves  are  uncut,  and  Prof.  Gibbs  did  not  recollect  that  the  book  was 
in  his  library.     It  is  probably  the  only  copy  in  America." 

The  continuation  of  the  journal  will  afford  the  reader  an 
agreeable  change  of  topics.  The  extraordinary  character  of 
these  youthful  records  must  acquit  them  of  the  charge  of 
monotony. 

"April  27.  This  is  my  Greek  week  ;  and  I  have  begun  to-day  at 
the  foundation,  reviewing  Moore's  grammar  through  and  through, 
and  reading  Yalpy's  Delectus  Sententiarum  Graecarum,  an  excellent 
book  for  beginners.  It  is  not  only  perfectly  intelligible,  but  contains  a 
chosen  selection  of  golden  sentences.  Some  of  the  sayings  of  the  old 
philosophers  are  wonderfully  striking.  As  I  extend  my  acquaintance 
with  the  classic  writers  I  am  surprised  to  find  so  much  acuteness  and 
wit,  as  well  as  wisdom,  in  their  sayings.  We  are  apt  (I  mean  the  igno- 
rant and  partially  informed)  to  think  them  admirable  only  by  com- 
parison— a  sort  of  silly  naivete  as  their  chief  characteristic  ;  at  least  this 
has  been  my  own  case.  When  I  think  of  the  Greek  writers  whom  I 
h  ive  not  read,  I  think  of  them — but  no  matter,  I  am  every  day  more 
and  more  disabused.  The  little  book  above  mentioned  I  have  read 
through  to-day." 

"  April  29.     I  have  finished  to-day  the  fifty  chapters  of  Neilson's 


Mr.m.1  LETTER    FROM    HIS    BROTHER.  175 

Greek  Exercises,  and  am  sensible  of  having  derived  great  benefit  from 
the  perusal.  The  Latin  sentences  I  have  parsed  over,  as  also  the  sup- 
plemental exercises  on  the  dialects  and  poetry,  because  I  intend,  at 
present,  to  confine  myself  to  prose  and  to  Attic  prose.  I  shall  take  up 
the  book  again  hereafter  and  go  through  with  it.  I  have  also  revised 
again  to-day,  Moore's  rules  for  the  formation  of  the  tenses.  I  am  more 
and  more  convinced,  every  day,  that  this  grammar  is  the  best  for  ele- 
mentary instruction  that  was  ever  written.  It  does  not  twaddle  like 
the  German  books,  about  the  original  forms  and  progressive  changes 
of  the  etymology,  but  gives  rules  for  deducing  the  parts  of  the  language 
as  they  are." 

"  May  4.  Read  in  Greek  about  five  hundred  lines  in  the  first  book 
of  the  Cyropaadia.  My  object  is  to  recover  and  extend  my  acquaintance 
with  the  forms  of  the  Greek  Grammar.  For  this  purpose  I  run  over 
the  tenses  of  every  verb  on  its  first  appearance,  and  often  afterwards. 
This  requires  a  frequent  recurrence  to  the  lexicon." 

About  this  time  he  received  the  following  letter  from  his 
brother  James.  The  date  on  the  outside  is  May  5.  His 
brother  sends  him  Botta,*  and  had  previously  sent  the  Greek 
Prayer-Book  concerning  which  we  shall  presently  find  him 
writing  to  Mr.  Hall.  The  letter  contains  so  many  allusions 
that  it  would  be  hard  to  sum  them  up  in  a  sentence. 

"  Hoping  that  "William  will  call  again  I  venture  upon  a  few  lines. 
I  send  you  Botta,  which  will  be  exactly  in  place  after  Scott.  [Scott's 
Napoleon  which  he  was  reading].  I  think  you  will  admire  it,  especially 
as  it  is  not  marred  by  the  absurdity  of  fabricated  speeches.  The  Greek 
prayer-book  I  also  sent.  I  imagine  it  is  made  for  the  Greek  Catholics 
of  the  islands  near  Venice.  See  Carter's  travels.  Also,  a  letter  of 
John  Hall's  which  contains  some  notices  which  may  interest  you.  John 
is  an  excellent  correspondent  in  all  such  matters.  He  spares  no  pains 
in  answering  every  question  I  send  him,  even  when  he  has  to  turn  over 
whole  volumes  in  the  library.  As  to  the  Review,  all  I  know  is  this  : 
"Walsh  culled  at  Littell's  and  said  that  he  thought  the  whole  edition 
would  sell,  and  that  a  very  favourable  review  of  it  would  be  in  the 
next  American  Quarterly  Review.  I  very  highly  approve  of  your  devo- 
tion to  the  Greek,  and  of  your  ardour  in  the  pursuit,  as  well  as  the  mode 
of  critical  study  which  you  have  adopted.    You  would  probably  find  all 

*  I  presume,  his  "  Floria  dTtalia,"  etc. 


176  SCOTTS   NAPOLEON.  [1829. 

Xenophon's  works  interesting,  and  then  might  be  prepared  to  under- 
take Plato.  'Das  pou  sto1  is  attributed  to  Archimedes,  as  'Richard  is 
himself,' — '  So  much  for  Buckingham,'  are  to  Shakspeare,  and  '  a  sweet 
morsel  under  the  tongue,'  is  to  the  Bible.  "Who  invented  the  sayings  I 
know  not.  I  have  found  the  origin  of  Byron's  '  hell  of  waters,'  the  ex- 
pression which  he  applies  to  the  cascade  of  Vellino  (Childe  Harold,  iv., 
69).  "When  the  German  poet  Lenz  visited  the  cataract  of  the  Rhine  at 
Schaffhausen,  he  smote  his  thigh,  (a  classical  gesture  as  per  Homer,) 
and  cried  '  Hier  ist  wasser-holle.'  Stolberg's  Travels,  I.,  85.  Next  to 
Mitford's  Greece  will  stand  Halsey  on  antediluviani^m,  for  chasteness 
and  harmony  of  language.  I  have  sent  for  an  Italian  Les-Buch  on  tho 
Hamiltonian  plan,  this  being  the  nearest  approach  I  can  make  to  a  liv- 
ing teacher  ;  thus  I  hope  to  learn  the  vexatious  niceties  which  puzzle 
one  so  much  in  a  new  language." 

I  again  resume  my  extracts  from  the  journal : 

"  May  6.  Read  in  Hebrew,  Numbers  1,  and  Ezekiel  13. — Read  in 
Greek  and  Persian,  Matt.  16.  Finished  the  first  book  of  the  Kvpov- 
7ratSeiV,  and  read  the  whole  over.  Finished  the  second  volume  of  Scott's 
Life  of  Bonaparte.  On  page  18  there  are  two  attempts  at  illustrative 
allusion,  so  to  speak,  which  is  his  favourite  method  in  this  work.  One 
of  these  is  pretty  good ;  it  is  about  vengeance  and  dragon's  teeth.  The 
other  is  horrible;  it  is  in  these  words :  '  Every  obligation  according 
to  the  making  of  the  civil  law,  is  made  void  in  the  same  manner  in 
which  it  is  made  binding  ;  as  JrtJiegal,  the  emblematic  champion  of 
justice  in  Spenser^s  allegory,  decrees  as  law,  that  what  the  sea  has 
brought  the  sea  may  resume.'  I  can  scarcely  believe  that  a  man  of 
taste  and  genius  could  be  gnilty  of  such  absurdity.  Appealing  to  a 
character  in  an  allegorical  poem  for  proof  of  a  maxim  in  law,  and 
that,  not  in  the  way  of  a  direct  quotation,  but  with  all  the  formality 
of  a  pleader  citing  an  adjudged  case.  Here  is  a  match  for  it :  '  Every 
thing  projected  from  the  earth  will,  by  the  law  of  gravitation  return  to 
it  again  ' ;  as  the  little  ragged  boy  who  cleans  my  boots  says,  when  he 
plays  sky-high,  'What  goes  up  must  come  down;  let  every  man  take 
care  of  his  crown  ! '  " 

"May  14.  Read  the  8th  and  last  book  of  the  Cyroposdia.  I  have 
read  this  book  with  great  satisfaction.  My  principal  object  has  been 
to  recover  and  extend  my  knowledge  of  the  Greek  etymology,  but  my 
interest  in  the  subject  and  admiration  of  the  style  diverted  my  atten- 
tion in  a  great  degree  from  mere  grammatical  forms.  Xenophon  is 
one  of  those  writers  whose  personal  character  seems  to  be  exhibited 


^Et.  20.]  ESTIMATE    OF    XENOPHON.  177 

in  all  tlieir  compositions.  Throughout  this  book  I  have  conceived  an 
idea  of  the  author  as  a  man  particularly  amiable.  There  is  a  suavity 
of  temper  which  pervades  and  characterizes  the  whole  work  that  is 
very  charming.  No  harsh  or  intemperate  terms  are  used,  even  in  his 
censures  of  vice ;  nor  is  there  any  thing  biting  or  sarcastic  in  his 
humour.  He  is  indeed  more  like  Addison  than  any  modern  writer 
whom  I  know.  As  to  his  style,  I  am  struck  with  its  transparent  per- 
spicuity and  dignified  simplicity.  By-the-bye,  the  words  simple*  and 
simplicity  are  very  equivocal  in  English.  They  have  become,  by 
usage,  almost  contemptuous,  a  character  which  does  not  belong  to  the 
primitives  in  Latin.  We  are  apt,  therefore,  to  attach  to  the  expression 
simple  style  an  idea  of  something  stale,  flat  and  unprofitable.  But  the 
genuine  simplicity  of  classic  writers  is  not  the  simplicity  of  simpletons. 
It  is  not  the  childish  naivete  of  unsophisticated  ignorance.  It  is  the 
simplicity  of  men  who  had  ornament  at  command,  and  exhaustless 
sources  of  rhetorical  embellishment,  whose  taste  forbade  an  undue  use 
of  them.  In  every  page  Xeuophon  shows  himself  to  be  familiar  with 
the  highest  learniug  that  was  known  in  the  times  in  which  he  lived; 
as  well  as  endowed  with  elevated  intellectual  powers.  His  simplicity 
is  therefore  the  result  of  an  exquisite  refinement  which  entitles  him  to 
the  epithet  which  has  been  given  him,  ArrtKcoTaros.t  This  book,  which 
I  have  read  as  a  romance,  without  making  any  research  pro.  or  con.  in 
relation  to  its  character,  deserves  the  highest  admiration.  The  purity 
of  moral  principles,  which  it  formally  inculcates,  and  what  is  still  more 
important,  the  perfectly  unexceptionable  character  of  the  work  itself, 
astonish  me.  I  cannot  help  feeling  some  amazement  at  the  wonderful 
superiority  of  the  best  heathen  writers  over  the  infidel  authors  of 
modern  times.  That  the  former,  in  an  age  of  gross  superstition  and 
idolatry,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  blackest  abominations,  should  have 
breathed  a  spirit  so  much  purer  than  that  of  men  born  in  an  enlight- 
ened age,  reared  in  a  state  of  society,  hostile,  at  least,  to  external  vice, 
and  with  all  the  advantages  of  Christianity,  is  truly  wonderful.  "U'hat 
a  figure  does  Voltaire  make  by  the  side  of  Xenophon!  This  charming 
writer  delights  me  also  by  his  delicate  wit,  and  his  nice  discernment 
of  character." 

In  May  the  Directors  of  the  Seminary  held  their  semi- 

*  There  are  some  fine  remarks  to  the  same  purport  in  the  Greyson  Letters. 
\  This  is  directly  in  the  teeth  of  the  strange  assertions  of  Macaulay  in  his 
Essay  on  History. 
8* 


178  HEARING    SERMONS.  [1829. 

annual  meeting.  At  this  time  he  heard  several  distinguished 
preachers.  A  strong  impression  was  made  upon  him  by  Dr. 
William  Kevins,  of  Baltimore.  The  record  of  fact  and  feel- 
ing is  interesting : 

"  May  17.  Morning  sermon  by  "William  Kevins  of  the  First  Church, 
Baltimore.  'What  is  a  man  advantaged  if  he  gain  the  whole  world 
and  lose  himself? '  A  fine  specimen  of  studied  oratory.  The  mode 
of  uttering  every  word  seemed  to  be  preconcerted  ;  yet  the  preacher 
had  so  much  tact,  taste,  judgment,  and,  above  all,  unaffected  earnest- 
ness and  tenderness  of  feeling  that  be  was  truly  eloquent.  As  to  the 
matter,  the  plan  of  the  sermon  was  ingenious  and  to  me  noble.  Instead 
of  explaining  the  quest:on  in  the  text  as  denoting  an  absolute  negation, 
he  undertook  to  answer  it  by  setting  forth  the  advantages  of  sin  in  all 
their  strength  and  breadth.  This  was,  of  course,  a  very  hard  thing  to 
do  well.  The  general  strain  of  the  discourse  was  necessarily  half 
ironical,  and  it  was  necessary,  here  and  there,  to  throw  in  a  solitary 
caution  in  order  to  prevent  the  fascinations  of  iniquity  from  having 
more  effect  than  the  countervailing  benefits  of  holiness,  which  were 
only  exhibited  by  implication.  And  this  the  preacher  managed  won- 
derfully well." 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  in  contrast  with  the 
former,  he  heard  a  sermon  from  another  preacher  of  some  dis- 
tinction whom  he  thus  describes  : 

"  He  seems  to  be  a  sincere  honest  man,  but  is  one  of  the  new 
school  of  preachers,  who  place  more  dependence  on  the  way  in  which 
they  say  a  thing,  than  on  the  intrinsic  weight  of  the  thing  itself.  He 
seemed  to  be  always  making  use  of  stage  tricks  for  the  production 
of  effect,  an  artifice  rendered  more  apparent  and  ridiculous  by  the 
homely  simplicity  of  his  improvisations  in  point  of  style.  Thus  ho 
tried  to  startle  the  assembly  by  interspersing  divers  observations  be- 
tween the  verses  of  the  introductory  hymn.  He  even  talked  about  the 
philosophy  of  the  mind,  in  this  appropriate  and  decorous  connexion. 
Then  in  his  sermon  he  placed  great  dependence  on  the  mystical  repeti- 
tion of  the  same  thing  thrice,  thus:  'Will  you  tell  a  lie?  Will  you 
tell  a  lie?  Will  you  tell  a  lie?'  accompanied  with  an  equal  number 
of  hard  slap^  upon  the  Bible.  He  also  thought  proper  to  display  some 
specimens  of  Aveeping  on  a  grand  scale,  so  obviously  forced,  if  not 
feigned,  that  they  did  more  harm  than  good.     How  unfortunate  that 


Mi.  20.] 


JOSEPH    SANDFORD.  179 


a  man  apparently  sincere  and  unquestionably  zealous  should  resort  to 
such  poor  trickery  to  bolster  up  the  weakness  of  the  gospel !  His  text 
was,  'Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead?'  The  introduction  consisted  of  a 
question  in  the  rule  of  three,  the  answer  required  being  the  relative 
number  of  souls  lost  and  saved  since  the  beginning  of  the  world.  It 
was  as  regularly  stated  and  worked  out  as  it  could  have  been  by  Pike." 

On  the  18th  he  heard  a  sermon  preached  before  the  Direc- 
tors, and  thus  notices  it : 

"  May  18th.  In  the  evening,  semi-annual  sermon  before  the  Direc- 
tors of  the  Seminary  by  Joseph  Sandford,  of  the  Arch  Street  Presby- 
terian Church,  Philadelphia.  Nothing  original  in  the  conceptions  or 
new  in  the  mode  of  expression  ;  but  the  most  finished  taste  and  sound 
judgment  in  the  selection  and  arrangement  of  the  materials.  The 
delivery  was  fine.  I  had  heard  of  Sandford's  pulpit  eloquence,  but 
supposed  him  to  be  an  oily,  measured,  studied  speaker.  On  the  con- 
trary, there  is  no  appearance  of  artifice  in  his  manner.  He  has  a  noble 
voice  and  commanding  figure.  The  unimpassioned  parts  of  his  dis- 
course were  pronounced  in  a  subdued  tone,  with  great  dignity  and 
distinctness;  the  animated  passages,  with  great  richness  of  intonation 
and  admirable  spirit.  He  cited  and  applied  to  America  the  Scriptural 
allegory  of  the  cedars  of  Lebanon.  This  part  of  his  sermon,  could  not, 
I  think,  have  been  delivered  better.  Text :  '  And  while  Paul  tarried 
at  Athens  his  spirit  was  stirred  within  him.'  " 

"  May  30.  Read  in  Hebrew,  Numbers  25-26  and  Ezekiol  36-37. 
Read  in  Greek  the  first  book  of  Xenophon's  Anabasis.  I  can  easily 
perceive  that  this  is  not  such  a  book  as  the  Cyropasdia.  It  is  evidently 
written  with  less  care  and  less  attention  to  rhetorical  elegance.  From 
the  abruptness  of  some  of  the  transitions,  and  the  baldness  of  some  of 
the  narratives,  I  should  think  it  was  a  transcript  of  the  author's  memo- 
randum book.  Still  it  has  all  the  excellences  of  the  Xenophontic  style. 
And  the  very  circumstances  which  I  have  here  mentioned  render  it 
the  best  Greek  hook  for  beginners,  as  Professor  Porson  used  to  say  it 
was.  Read  in  French  the  second  and  third  books  of  Voltaire's  Charles 
XII.    Read  in  Persian  and  Greek  Matt.  XXVII. 

In  the  absence  of  other  data  relative  to  this  period,  except 
those  which  are  furnished  by  the  diary,  and  a  hint  here  and 
there  in  letters,  it  will  doubtless  be  agreeable  to  the  reader 
to  be  put  in  possession  of  the  full  particulars  which  have  been 


180  RECOLLECTIONS    OF   DR.    RICE.  [1829. 

kindly  communicated  by  Dr.  John  H.  Rice.  The  description 
which  this  gentleman  gives  of  Mr.  Alexander's  habits  at  this 
time,  will  answer  in  some  degree  as  a  flowing  outline  sketch 
of  his  habits  when  making  visits  to  the  city  at  a  later  day. 
The  minutiae  of  the  pictures  are  not  the  same.  Indeed  his 
plans  and  occupations  during  these  visits  were  as  different  at 
different  times  as  one  can  Avell  conceive.  Sometimes  he  had 
taken  his  carpet-bag  in  his  hand  and  gone  on  to  preach  a  ser- 
mon for  one  of  the  city  ministers,  by  special  request.  Some- 
times he  had  arrived  in  town  with  the  absorbing  purpose  of 
making  a  commentarv  before  he  left  it.  On  such  occasions  he 
kept  himself  very  close.  Sometimes  again,  he  went  merely  to 
disport  himself  amidst  the  fantastic  excitements  of  the  crowded 
streets ;  to  make  trial  of  the  various  hotels ;  to  step  into  res- 
taurants and  cafes  ;  to  move  noiselessly  and  unobserved  in  the 
throngs  of  men ;  to  see  the  signs  and  listen  to  the  street-cries ; 
to  refresh  his  eyes  with  the  spectacle  of  the  flashing  shop- 
windows  ;  to  gaze  upon  bannered  pageants  and  military  pro- 
cessions; to  lose  himself  in  strange  places  and  strange  scenes; 
to  avoid  the  officious  notice  to  which  he  was  sometimes  sub- 
jected at  Princeton ;  and  to  read  in  the  many-leaved  volume 
of  human  nature,  which  in  the  city  always  lay  open  for  his 
inspection. 

But  I  will  not  detain  the  reader  from  the  reminiscences 
of  Dr.  Rice. 

"  In  1829,"  he  says,  "  ray  father  moved  from  Petersburg,  Virginia, 
to  New  York  city.  During  our  residence  tliere  Addison  made  us  fre- 
quent visits,  which  were  usually  extended  from  two  days  to  a  week. 
He  was  at  t!iat  time  diligently  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  French 
language,  in  which  he  afterward  became  a  proficient.  I  had  enjoyed 
unusually  favourable  opportunities  for  learning  to  speak  French,  and 
Addison  seemed  to  think  that  he  could  gain  something  by  conversing 
with  me.  As  I  had  nothing  to  do  at  the  time,  and  was  not  going  to 
school,  we  spent  almost  every  day  in  wandering  over  the  city  together, 
going  to  the  least  attractive  and  most  obscure  portions  of  it,  and  observ- 
ing the  manners  and  habits  of  the  poor  and  vicious  classes.  We  fre- 
quently walked  through  the  Five  Points  and  the  adjacent  purlieus,  and 


Mt.20.i  VISIT    TO    NEW    YORK.  181 

saw  a  great  deal  of  the  street-life  of  the  destitute  and  abandoned.  You 
perhaps  have  remarked  that  his  local  acquaintance  with  the  city  of 
New  York  was  such  as  hardly  any  one  ever  attains  who  has  not  been 
bom  and  brought  up  there.  Much  of  his  knowledge  of  the  various 
phases  of  human  nature,  which  seemed  so  wonderful  in  one  who  was 
generally  regarded  as  a  man  of  the  study  and  of  books,  was  probably 
picked  up  in, these  and  similar  rambles  through  New  York,  and  other 
great  cities  in  both  hemispheres.  Though  very  short-sighted,  yet  by 
the  aid  of  glasses  he  could  see  more  than  most  persons  whose  vision  is 
perfect.  Our  intercourse  was  carried  on  entirely  in  French,  neither 
of  us  ever  speaking  English,  except  to  discuss  some  question  of  French 
idiom  or  pronunciation.  His  observation  was  exceedingly  quick,  and 
his  memory  the  most  extraordinary  I  ever  knew,  unless  it  be  that  of 
his  brother  the  Hon.  Wm.  C.  Alexander,  now  of  New  York.  I  recol- 
lect that  once,  as  we  were  walking  near  the  Five  Points,  he  called  my 
attention  to  a  sign  over  the  door  of  one  of  the  most  dilapidated  houses, 
the  floor  of  which  was  below  the  level  of  the  sidewalk.  The  sign  read, 
'  P.  Brady's  school.'  Upon  looking  in  we  could  see  no  sign  of  school 
of  any  kind :  the  front  room  was  one  of  the  lowest  of  low  grog-shops. 
That  school  seemed  to  make  a  great  impression  on  his  mind,  and  he 
referred  to  it  in  my  presence  years  afterwards. 

"  You  know  how  much  he  delighted  in  the  solitude  of  a  great  city; 
where  he  could  see,  yet  not  be  seen.  While  my  father's  family  resided 
in  New  York,  he  felt  free  to  come  and  stay  with  us.  He  stayed  in  my 
room,  and  we  spent  a  good  portion  of  every  night,  after  we  had  retired, 
in  talking  over  the  adventures  and  rambles  of  the  day.  His  conversa- 
tion at  that  time  was  characterized  by  the  same  sprightliness,  unaffect- 
edness,  and  exuberant  flow  of  humour.  I  never  could  perceive  that  he 
intentionally  undertook  to  teach  me  anything,  but  you  know  he  was 
the  most  skilful  of  instructors,  and  I  doubt  not  that  he  made  inefface- 
able impressions  on  my  mind  at  that  time,  and  in  a  good  measure  gave 
direction  to  my  thinking ;  so  that  I  am  to  this  day  reaping  the  benefit 
of  our  familiar  intercourse.  I  continued  to  see  him  thus  occasionally 
at  New  York  and  during  visits  which  I  made  to  his  father's  house  in 
Princeton,  until  ho  sailed  for  Europe." 


CHAPTER  Y. 

Me.  Alexander's  only  intimate  friend  at  this  period,  and 
the  only  bosom  friend  he  ever  had,  was  Rezeau  Brown,*  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown,  of  Lawrenceville,  a  village  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Princeton.  During  the  course  of  the  year 
1829  the  two  young  men  studied  Hebrew  together.  It  is 
nowhere  asserted,  but  is  not  intrinsically  improbable,  that 
Mr.  Brown  received  the  rudiments,  or  perhaps  the  first  sugges- 
tion, from  Mr.  Alexander,  and  that  afterwards  they  proceeded 
together  in  delightful  and  congenial  co-oj^eration. 

The  character  of  this  lovely  youth  was  in  some  respects 
so  remarkable,  and  his  relation  to  the  subject  of  this  biog- 
raphy so  close  and  tender,  that  no  apology  is  needed  for  the 
insertion  of  what  follows. 

Eezeau  Brown  was  born  September  30,  1808,  at  Lawrenceville, 
Hunterdon  (now  Mercer)  county,  New  Jersey,  and  was  consequently 
about  seventeen  months  older  than  his  Princeton  friend.  Not  long 
before  Rezeau's  birth,  his  father  had  assumed  the  pastoral  charge  of 
the  Presbyterian  congregation  in  the  little  hamlet,  which  is  only  five 
miles  from  Princeton.  A  few  years  after,  though  without  relinquish- 
ing his  duties  as  pastor,  he  became  the  head  of  a  flourishing  classical 
school  at  the  same  place. 

Eezeau  entered  a  common  English  school  in  his  native  village  at 
the  age  of  four  years.  His  precocity  was  remarkable,  and  he  made 
rapid  advances;  being  especially  distinguished  for  his  aptness  in  ac- 


*  A  pretty  extended  memoir  of  Rezeau  Brown  (of  which  I  have  made  free 
use  in  preparing  the  above  account)  will  be  found  in  the  Bib.  Rep.  for  Octo- 
ber, 1834,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Alexander.  The  accuracy  of  this 
account  is  confirmed  by  short  but  eulogistic  letters  from  the  Rev.  I.  V.  Brown, 
Dr.  Miller,  and  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. 


Mr.  20.1  REZEAU    BROWN.  183 

t 

quiring  the  knowledge  of  arithmetic.  Ho  was  fond  of  study,  but  even 
at  this  early  period  had  a  feeble  constitution.  It  was  noticed  that 
(like  Alexander)  he  was  not  much  addicted  to  the  usual  boyish  amuse- 
ments, but  derived  his  "  chief  entertainment  from  intellectual  pursuits." 
When  it  became  proper  he  was  admitted  to  his  father's  classical  semi- 
nary, where  for  a  number  of  years  he  enjoyed  the  direction  and  judi- 
cious care  of  this  affectionate  parent.  The  facilities  here  afforded  were 
not  wasted  upon  him.  lie  was  very  soon  distinguished  in  every  branch 
of  study.  Especially  in  the  various  lines  of  mathematical  pursuit,  he 
displayed  a  quickness  and  a  maturity  of  understanding  which  were 
rare  ;  passing  through  the  details  of  arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry,  not 
only  with  ease,  but  with  delight,  in  no  case  requiring  to  be  urged,  and 
in  scarcely  any  to  be  assisted. 

At  this  time  the  greater  part  of  those  who  were  connected  with 
Mr.  Brown's  academy  were  young  men  approaching  to  manhood,  and 
some  of  them  of  adult  age.  Yet  even  these,  we  are  assured,  were 
accustomed  to  look  up  to  Eezeau  for  assistance,  while  he  was  yet  a 
child.*  There  are  those  still  who  remember  "the  pleasing  appear- 
ance of  this  promising  boy,  his  symmetrical  form,  his  manly  grace  of 
motion,  and  that  beauty  which  arises  from  the  light  of  intelligence 
playing  upon  features  of  perfect  regularity." 

In  the  autumn  of  1823,  being  then  fifteen,  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Junior  class  in  the  college  of  New  Jersey ;  thus  being  at  the  same  age 
and  entering  the  same  collegiate  class  with  his  friend  Addison,  who  at 
the  expiration  of  a  year  strictly  followed  his  bright  example.  Addison 
was  at  this  time  at  the  Academy.  During  the  period  of  his  connexion 
with  the  college,  Rezeau  was  much  absorbed  in  the  appropriate  studies 
of  the  course,  and  like  his  young  compeer,  was  uniformly  in  the  first 
rank  of  distinguished  scholars,  and  received  the  highest  literary  honour 
at  the  close,  though  a  number  of  his  competitors  were  young  men  more 
advanced  in  years.  There  are  but  few  particulars  of  his  college  life 
that  have  been  preserved,  but  it  is  known  that  his  favourite  studies 
were  the  mathematical  and  physical  sciences,  and  that  "his  deportment 
was  such  as  to  win  the  regard  of  his  friends  and  teachers."  In  his 
strong  partiality  towards  the  exact  sciences  he  differed  strikingly  from 
his  friend.  About  this  time  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  be  domiciliated 
in  the  family  of  his  uncle,  the  late  Dr.  John  Van  Cleve,  "  who  will 
long  be  remembered  in  New  Jersey  as  a  skilful  practitioner  of  medi- 
cine, a  proficient  in  science,  a  citizen  of  probity  and  talent,  and  a 

*  Memoir  in  the  Repertory. 


184  VISITS   NEW    HAVEN.  [1829. 

church  officer  of  -wisdom  and  piety."  Rezeau  was  employed  by  Dr. 
Van  Cleve,  who  "was  at  the  time  delivering  a  course  of  lectures  on 
chemistry,  as  an  assistant  in  his  laboratory.  This  engagement  covered 
the  period  of  two  successive  winters,  and  the  manipulations  to  which 
it  gave  rise  not  only  tended  to  develop  his  taste  for  the  science,  hut 
also  helped  to  give  perfection  to  "  that  manual  tact  for  which  he  was 
always  distinguished,"  and  to  "  awaken  in  him  a  desire  to  enter  the 
medical  profession." 

Tlie  severity  and  long  continuance  of  his  studies  proved  greatly 
prejudicial,  and  subsequently  fatal,  to  his  health,  which  was  always 
extremely  precarious.  His  physicians  accordingly  put  an  interdict 
upon  his  scientific  schemes,  and  encouraged  him  in  a  purpose  to  seek 
mental  and  bodily  improvement  in  a  tour  to  Ohio  and  Kentucky, 
where  he  passed  the  autumn  of  1825,  and  the  following  winter,  in 
active  travel  in  company  with  a  college  friend.  On  his  return,  in  the 
spring  of  1826,  "  he  was  seized  with  a  violent  affection  of  the  lungs, 
which  reduced  him  to  the  brink  of  the  grave." 

In  March,  1826,  having  in  a  measure  recovered  his  health,  he 
proceeded  to  carry  out  his  cherished  purpose  of  becoming  a  physician, 
and  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  In  March,  1827,  he  met  with  a 
"  change  in  his  spirit,"  which  gave  a  new  direction  and  a  new  colour 
to  the  remainder  of  his  life.  It  was  to  this  time  that  he  and  others 
were  accustomed  to  date  his  conversion. 

At  the  time  referred  to  there  was  a  much-awakened  feeling  about 
the  souFs  interests,  both  at  Lawrenceville  and  Princeton.  Rezeau  had 
stood  out  with  positive  and  sturdy  defiance.  He  was  opposed  to  the 
good  work  itself,  its  instrumentalities,  and  its  conductors.  At  length 
suddenly  overwhelmed  with  a  sense  of  God's  mercy,  he  sank  to  the 
earth.  He  was  admitted  soon  after  to  the  communion  of  the  church 
in  the  little  rural  village  where  he  was  born;  to  wit,  in  June,  1827. 

The  following  winter  he  passed  in  New  Haven,  his  main  induce- 
ment being  a  wish  to  attend  the  lectures  of  Prof.  Silliman,  a  gentleman 
from  whom  he  received  much  kind  attention,  and  for  whom  he  ever 
afterwards  entertained  an  affectionate  respect.  He  frequented  the 
lectures  of  the  medical  department,  and  particularly  the  course  in 
chemistry  and  mineralogy.  "At  the  same  time,  the  example  and  aid 
of  Professor  Gibbs  strongly  incited  him  towards  the  pursuit  of  the 
Oriental  languages."  It  may  be  that  his  Princeton  friend  had  already 
somewhat  stimulated  his  taste  for  these  unaccustomed  studies,  though 
on  this  point  there  is  no  certainty.  He  also  went  through  a  course 
of  gymnastics,  which  in  his  ca=c,  if  in  any,  was  absolutely  essential. 


^Et.20.]  SEEKING    THE    MINISTRY.  185 

But  above  all,  during  his  residence  at  New  Haven,  he  "  grew  in  grace 
and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ."  Great 
revivals  were  at  this  time  agitating  New  England. 

The  summer  of  1828  was  spent  in  studies  preparatory  to  a  regular 
course  in  theology,  especially  of  the  original  Scriptures.  In  the  spring 
of  1828  he  received  and  accepted  the  appointment  of  tutor  in  the  col- 
lege of  New  Jersey ;  which  situation  he  held  two  years  and  a  half. 
His  progress  in  religious  things  was  now  becoming  more  and  more 
marked. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  Mr.  Brown  renounced  his  literary  employ- 
ments in  Nassau  Hall,  "  under  an  ever-deepening  conviction  that  he 
ought  to  enter  without  delay  upon  the  work  of  the  ministry."  He  had 
been  for  a  year  or  two  engaged  in  theological  studies,  and  his  name 
was  now  enrolled  among  the  young  men  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Princeton.  He  revolved  in  his  mind  the  plan  of  going  as  a  mission- 
ary to  the  heathen  ;  but  the  state  of  his  health  was  an  insurmountable 
impediment.  'His  health  was  even  then  radically  impaired,  and  his 
spare  frame,  and  mild  but  bloodless  countenance,  were  signals  of  dis- 
tress by  which  nature  seemed  to  warn  him  from  any  further  seclusion.' 

As  a  college  officer  he  was  "conscientious,  faithful,  and  accepta- 
ble." "He  was  often  known  to  "assist  in  various  social  meetings  in  the 
vicinity  of  Princeton :  in  one  of  these  his  prayers  and  exhortations, 
and  private  admonitions,  were  made  instrumental  to  the  awakening 
of  souls." 

The  cause  of  Sunday  schools  was  very  dear  to  him,  and  "  among 
other  important  services,  he  prepared  for  the  American  Sunday  School 
Union  the  Memoirs  of  Augustus  Hermann  Freincke,  which  has  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  most  popular  of  useful  works."  * 

In  the  month  of  April,  1831,  Mr.  Brown  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  as  a  probationer  for  the  gospel 
ministry.  Soon  after  this  event  a  great  awakening  of  religion  began 
to  manifest  itself  in  the  county  of  Somerset,  and  not  less  than  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  persons  were  thought  to  be  converted.  The 
zealous  and  unflagging  labours  of  Mr.  Brown  were  largely  instrumen- 
tal in  the  hands  of  Providence  in  the  production  of  that  gracious 
result.  In  the  month  of  October  of  the  fame  year,  he  received  an 
appointment  from  the  General  Assembly's  Board  of  Missions,  to  preach 

*  The  German  work  of  which  this  was  little  more  than  an  English  abridg- 
ment, was  reviewed  by  Mr.  Alexander  in  one  of  the  early  numbers  of  the  Re- 
pertory.— See  Bib.  Rep.,  1830,  p.  408. 


186  IN    PHILADELPHIA. 


[1329. 


the  gospel  in  Virginia.  The  scene  of  his  labours  was  the  village  of 
Morgantown,  in  Monongalia  county.  He  greatly  endeared  himself  to 
that  whole  community,  and  shed  the  fragrance  of  his  piety  into  the 
most  secluded  parts  of  the  territory  covered  by  his  ministrations. 

In  June,  1832,  he  returned  from  the  theatre  of  his  painful  toils 
in  Virginia,  to  his  father's  house.  The  bleak  winters  of  the  mountain 
country  had  been  too  much  for  him.  He  was  in  as  delicate  a  condition 
of  body  as  at  almost  any  former  period.  "  Shortly  after  his  return,  he 
again  connected  himself  with  the  Theological  Seminary  in  Princeton, 
and  sat  down  to  study  with  an  intensity  of  application "  which  gave 
well-founded  alarm  to  all  his  friends.  He  busied  himself  in  all  kinds 
of  researches.  His  health  again  gave  way.  He  refused  a  number  of 
flattering  invitations,  and  among  the  rest  a  professorship  of  chemistry 
in  a  southern  college. 

Mr.  Brown  pursued  the  regular  course  of  study  until  the  summer 
of  1832,  and  after  preaching  a  few  weeks  with  much  acceptance  in  the 
city  of  Trenton,  he  was  then  prevailed  upon  by  the  solicitations  of  the 
Kev.  James  "W.  Alexander  (who  was  at  the  time  the  editor  of  the 
"  Presbyterian,"  a  religious  journal  published  in  Philadelphia),  to  assist 
him  in  that  work.  That  winter  was  a  season  of  deep  sorrow  for  the 
young  editor,  who  was  himself  in  dreadful  health,  and  whose  distant 
home  was  in  Trenton.  Those  were  the  days  of  the  old  coaches,  when 
the  public  vehicles  in  use  were  very  slow  and  uncertain ;  making  trav- 
elling no  easy  matter  in  cold  weather,  and  rendering  it  almost  impossi- 
ble for  one  to  reside  at  a  distance  and  transact  business  in  the  city. 
It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  he  had  recourse  to  his  afiection- 
ate  and  tried  friend,  Rezeau  Brown,  whose  willingness  proved  equal 
to  the  emergency.  "  He  repaired  to  Philadelphia,  and  for  a  number 
of  months  persevered  in  the  faithful  and  assiduous  performance  of  the 
duties  which  he  had  assumed.  The  friend  whom  he  came  to  aid  could 
never  forget  the  generous  ardour  with  which  he  wore  himself  down  in 
this  employment ;  nor  the  pious  principle  by  which  he  seemed  to  be 
actuated.  Even  those  minute  drudgeries  of  the  editorial  life  which 
are  almost  mechanical,  seemed  to  be  conducted  by  Mr.  Brown  with  a 
direct  view  to  the  glory  of  Christ." 

No  Lord's  day  passed  in  which  Mr.  Brown  did  not  preach  at  least 
once.  lie  was  universally  respected  and  beloved,  and  visibly  improved 
as  a  public  speaker.  uIn  spite  of  bodily  infirmity  Mr.  Brown  continued 
to  study,  to  write,  and  even  to  preach.  Towards  the  end  of  March, 
1833,  he  was  seized  with  catarrh,  and  while  under  its  pressure  con- 
ducted two  public  services  on  the  Lord's  day.    In  the  interval  of 


Mi.  20.j  FAILING    HEALTH.  187 

services,  he  was  observed  to  lie  upon  a  sofa,  pallid  and  exhausted.  Tho 
next  day  a  hectic  flush  mantled  his  cheek,  and  his  pulse  was  alarm- 
ingly accelerated.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost,  and  he  hastened  to 
his  father's  house.  The  pulmonary  disorder  was  evidently  seated  and 
confirmed.  It  was  no  small  aggravation  of  his  solicitude  that  he  had 
matured  a  plan  for  a  voyage  to  Europe,  in  company  with  an  early  and 
most  intimate  friend."  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  this  friend  was 
no  other  than  the  subject  of  the  present  memoir.  "For  such  a  vi>it  he 
was  eminently  prepared  by  his  course  of  study,  his  avidity  in  pursuit 
of  knowledge,  and  bis  acquaintance  with  the  French  and  German  lan- 
guages. His  object  was  to  travel  through  the  most  interesting  liter- 
ary fields  of  Europe,  and  to  repair  to  the  chief  universities  of  Germany, 
to  acquire  the  languages,  and  to  complete  his  familiarity  with  biblical 
and  classical  antiquities,  Oriental  letters,  and  the  natural  sciences. 
There  was  every  reason  to  believe  that  on  his  return  he  would  have 
received  a  professorship  in  one  of  our  most  distinguished  colleges.  His 
passport  was  already  obtained,  his  companion  was  awaiting  his  recov- 
ery, and  letters  of  recommendation  were  furnished.  "In  some  of  these 
letters,  kindly  furnished  by  Professors  in  Yale  College,  he  is  charac- 
terized as  "a  young  man  of  extensive  scientific  and  literary  attain- 
ments, well  skilled  in  the  Hebrew  language,  and  otherwise  learned." 
But  Providence  was  opening  his  way  to  "  a  better  country,  even  a 
heavenly." 

His  symptoms  from  this  time  forward  grew  gradually  worse.  He 
became  weak  and  emaciated ;  "  his  visage  assumed  the  hue  of  death," 
and  no  one  could  fail  to  recognize  in  him  the  victim  of  pulmonary 
consumption.  All  remedies  failed ;  and  he  was  evidently  drawing 
near  his  end.  "  He  was  generally  exempt  from  acute  pain,  and  com- 
plained chiefly  of  a  lassitude  which  was  almost  insupportable."  He 
was  fully  prepared  to  lay  aside  the  frail  earthly  tabernacle.  All  his 
hopes  were  fixed  on  Christ  and  heaven. 

In  the  month  of  July,  he  set  out  in  company  with  a  younger 
brother,  for  the  Red  Sulphur  Springs  of  Virginia,  which  have  been 
supposed  to  possess  a  specific  virtue  in  such  cases.  Just  before  his 
departure  an  intimate  acquaintance,  with  whom  he  cherished  a  con- 
fidential intercourse  from  childhood,  embraced  a  last  effort  of  drawing 
from  him  a  statement  of  his  religious  views.  Eezeau  Brown  was  much 
interested,  and  though  he  lay  panting  for  breath  upon  the  sofa,  entered 
into  a  free  conversation.  Ilis  friend  addressed  him  thus:  "Tell  me 
frankly,  Eezeau,  what  is  the  prospect  which  you  entertain  of  recov- 
ery ?  "    He  answered  much  as  follows : 


188  HIS    DEATH.  [1829. 

'"I  have  no  expectation  of  recovery.  I  am  fully  acquainted  with  the 
nature  of  my  disease,  and  aware  that  I  am  a  dying  man.  Sometimes  an  illu- 
sive hope  plays  about  me;  but  my  prevalent  judgment  is,  that  I  am  not  long 
for  this  world.' 

"  'And  now,  my  dear  R.,  what  effect  has  this  expectation  on  your  feelings? 
Do  you  regard  death  with  terror? ' 

"'Not  at  all,'  he  replied;  'I  am  relieved  from  all  fear,  and  entertain  a 
ca'm  hope  of  heaven.'  He  then  proceeded,  in  words  not  now  remembered,  to 
give  a  clear  and  satisfactory  account  of  his  trust  in  Christ,  and  his  resignation 
to  the  will  of  God.  There  was  no  rapture,  nor  any  strong  excitement  of  feel- 
ing; indeed  this  seemed,  in  his  case,  to  be  precluded  by  the  sedative  and  be- 
numbing influence  of  the  disease;  but  every  word  indicated  a  serene  waiting 
till  his  change  should  come.' 

"  He  came  back  from  the  Springs  without  benefit.  This  was  on 
the  4th  of  September;  and  though  he  had  talked  delightfully  and 
peacefully  during  the  homeward  journey,  he  was  now  too  ill  to  speak. 
He  declined  the  visits  of  any  friends,  except  two,  with  each  of  whom 
he  conversed  a  few  moments." 

TVho  can  doubt  that  these  were  the  brothers  James  and 
Addison  Alexander ;  who  were  the  two  friends  of  his  bosom, 
and  who  clung  to  him  in  mournful  apprehension  that  they 
should  be  soon  called  upon  to  receive  his  last  adieux? 

"To  a  brother  who  inquired  after  his  spiritual  frame,  two  days 
before  his  departure,  he  replied :  '  I  have  experienced  some  seasons  of 
fluctuation  and  depression,  but  my  prevailing  state  is  one  of  established 
confidence  and  hope.'  There  was  no  visible  indication  of  the  change 
until  a  short  time  before  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  His  departure  was 
then  without  a  struggle  or  a  groan." 

The  funeral  was  largely  attended  by  the  people  of  the 
neighbourhood  and  a  collection  of  persons  from  the  literary 
institutions  of  Princeton.  The  discourse  was  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  J.  W.  Alexander,  from  Rev.  xxii.  3-5.  Much  and 
tender  feeling:  is  said  to  have  been  exhibited  on  this  occasion. 
There  was  no  one  who  knew  him  that  did  not  love  and  admire, 
and  at  the  same  time  honour,  Rezeau  Brown. 

In  concluding  the  sketch  of  his  life,  his  frieud  and  biographer 
adds,  among  others,  the  following  interesting  particulars : 


^Et.  20.]  TEAITS    OF   CHARACTER.  189 

"It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say  that  with  regard  to  personal 
appearance,  Mr.  Brown  possessed  every  advantage.  Though  slender, 
he  was  above  the  common  height,  and  had  the  appearance  of  greater 
strength  than  he  really  possessed.  His  whole  exterior  was  marked  by 
graceful  dignity;  and  his  calm  and  somewhat  pensive  countenance,  in. 
which  regularity  of  feature  was  joined  with  an  expression  of  intel- 
ligence and  gentleness,  was  highly  prepossessing  of  his  manners;  it  is 
enough  to  say  that  he  was  in  every  sense  of  the  term  a  Christian  gen- 
tleman." 

A  survivor,  confirming  every  part  of  this  statement,  in- 
forms me  that  Rezeau  Brown  had  black  hair  and  very  dark 
eyes,  and  before  his  health  became  hopelessly  bad,  a  clear, 
delicate,  rosy  complexion,  of  the  kind  which  often  suggests 
genius,  and  in  his  case  painfully  betokened  an  early  death. 
The  same  person  says  that  he  had  a  sweet  face,  and  was  one 
of  the  most  generous  and  one  of  the  best-hearted  of  men. 

"  His  intellectual  traits  have  already  been  exhibited  to  some  extent. 
Quick  and  discursive  rather  than  profound  or  commanding,  his  mind 
attempted  almost  every  department  of  literature  and  science.  Indeed, 
such  was  his  inquisitiveness  with  regard  to  all  useful  knowledge,  that 
we  may  doubt  whether  his  reigning  fault  was  not  the  diffusion  of  his 
powers  over  too  wide  a  field.  Languages  both  ancient  and  modern, 
belles-lettres,  criticism,  chemistry,  physics,  anatomy  and  physiology 
were  his  favourite  pursuits.  In  the  acquisition  of  these  he  manifested 
a  readiness  which  was  astonishing.  The  versatility  of  his  genius 
made  every  subject  soon  familiar ;  and  the  tenacity  of  his  memory 
rendered  these  stores  available.  This  was  strikingly  exemplified  in 
his  examination  for  licensure  before  the  Presbytery  of  New-Brunswick; 
on  which  occasion  those  who  were  present  were  astonished  at  the  com- 
pass and  precision  of  his  knowledge,  and  the  promptness  and  per- 
tinency of  his  replies  on  every  subject. 

"  As  a  preacher  he  was  hindered  in  some  degree  by  constitutional 
frailty  from  becoming  eloquent.  Yet  it  is  not  here  meant  that  lie  was 
not  both  acceptable  and  impressive.  Indeed,  his  improvement  in  pul- 
pit exercises  was  rapid  and  constant,  even  until  his  latest  public  per- 
formances. And  there  was  in  all  his  addresses  a  solemn  sincerity,  and 
sometimes  a  natnral  pathos,  which  endeared  his  ministrations  to  all 
who  enjoyed  them. 

"His   adversaria  and  common-place  books  attest  the  care  with 


190  LINES    ON    HIS    DEATH.  [1829. 

which  he  made  collections  for  future  labours.    Epitomes,  criticisms, 
abstracts  and  reflections  form  the  greater  part  of  these  manuscripts. 

"But  it  is  to  his  character  as  a  Christian,  dedicating  all  his  talents 
and  acquirements  to  the  service  of  Christ,  that  we  turn  with  most 
satisfaction.  *  *  Of  the  spirit  and  character  of  his  preaching,  as 
truly  as  of  any  man's  that  I  have  ever  heard,  I  think  the  description 
of  the  Apostle  Paul's  preaching  to  the  Corinthians  may  be  sued:  'For 
I  determined  to  know  nothing  among  you,  save  Jesus  Christ  and  him 
crucified ! '  His  labours  were  incessant — too  great  for  his  debilitated 
state  of  health.  It  is  well  known  that  a  desire  to  do  good,  and  a  love 
for  his  Master's  work,  would  not  allow  him  to  enjoy  the  relaxation 
which  wa^  necessary.  A  respectable  number  were  added  to  the  Church 
during  his  six  months'  labour,  and  many — even  the  most  lawless  and 
thoughtless — were  occasionally  made  to  feel  and  reflect  under  his  dis- 
courses." 

It  was  impossible  that  Addison  Alexander  should  not 
be  most  painfully  affected  by  the  death  of  his  nearest  and 
best  friend.  He  was  in  Italy  when  the  sad  event  occurred  ; 
but  five  months  after,  at  Berlin,  in  a  moment  of  restless 
and  characteristic  lonsringr  for  change,  and  a  strong  desire 
for  home,  "  or  ever  he  was  aware,"  he  seems  to  have  been 
overwhelmed  by  a  sudden  rush  of  recollections,  and  at  once 
poured  out  his  whole  soul  in  the  following  pathetic  poem, 
which  it  may  be  well  to  say,  was  immediately  suggested 
by  a  conversation  in  which  he  had  just  been  engaged  with 
some  friend  on  the  closing  scene  of  Schleiermacher.  It  was 
written  with  great  rapidity,  in  his  ordinary  journal.  The 
handwriting,  by  its  irregularity  and  fiery  speed,  shows  the 
presence  of  some  vivid  emotion. 

"  The  plan  was  laid.     The  hour  was  nigh. 

Both  were  resolved  to  brave 
The  tempest's  terrors  and  to  try 

The  swiftness  of  the  wave. 
To-day  where  art  thou?  where  am  I? 
Alone,  beneath  a  foreign  sky, 

And  thou  art  in  thy  grave  ! 
While  I  careered  before  the  gale, 

And  the  auspicious  blast 


-4!t.20.]  THEIR    CHARACTER.  191 

Filled  the  deep  bosom  of  the  sail, 

And  bowed  the  sturdy  mast ; 
Thy  pallid  cheek  became  more  pale, 
Thy  secret  springs  began  to  fail, 

Thy  life  was  ebbing  fast. 
While  I,  through  Latium's  blasted  plain 

Approached  the  walls  of  Rome, 
Where  o'er  a  thousand  spires  and  vanes 

The  antichrist's  proud  dome 
Like  an  imperial  giant  reigns  ; 
Disease  had  well-nigh  loosed  the  chains, 

Which  kept  thee  from  thy  home. 
And  while  I  hastened  to  explore 

That  world  so  new  to  me, 
That  grave  of  empires  now  no  more, 

How  fared  it  then  with  thee  ? 
Ah !  thy  captivity  was  o'er. 
Death  had  unbarred  thy  dungeon  door 

And  set  thy  spirit  free ! 

There  is  as  much  sonorous  passion  in  this  verse  as  in  any- 
thing he  has  written.  The  gates  of  his  soul  were  not  often 
thus  lifted  ;  but  when  they  were,  the  torrent  that  came  forth 
was  at  flood-tide,  and  bore  him  impetuously  onward,  till  the 
gush  of  feeling  had  spent  itself.  He  was  not  known  to  revert 
very  often  to  the  decease  of  this  amiable  and  attractive  being, 
but  there  is  every  reasonable  certainty  that  he  continued  to 
hold  his  image  in  his  heart,  and  that  for  a  time  it  exerted  a 
quickening  influence  upon  his  life. 

Such  was  "the  manner  of  man"  that  the  young  scholar 
grappled  to  his  soul  with  hooks  of  steel,  in  the  scholastic 
retirement  of  Edgehill.  Brown,  or  "Rezeau"  (as  he  called 
him),  was  not  only  the  sharer  in  his  literary  raptures,  but  also 
in  joys  and  sorrows  which  he  imparted  to  no  other  outside 
of  his  own  family.* 

*  As  Mr.  Alexander  commonly  burnt  his  letters,  I  have  succeeded  in  dis- 
covering one  only  of  Rezeau  Brown's.  It  possesses  a  melancholy  interest,  now 
that  he  is  gone,  and  has  been  for  years  forgotten. 

"  My  Dear  Friend, 

"  I  am  sorry  that  I  am  unable  to  be  punctual  to  our  appointed  time  for 


192  ABOUT    THE    GEOGRAPHY.  [1329. 

A  few  words  in  the  journal  for  June,  1829,  show  the  stout 
scholar  busy  upon  a  book  of  sacred  geography,  which  he  and 
his  brother  James  afterwards  published  through  the  American 
Sunday  School  Union. 

"June  25.  I  have  undertaken  to  prepare  a  book  of  sacred  geogra- 
phy for  the  American  S.  S.  Union,  and  am  now  abridging  Eosenmuller's 
Alterthemskunde. 

He  had  prepared  about  half  when  he  became  "disgusted" 
with  the  work  and  placed  his  MS.  in  the  hands  of  his  brother 
James  to  finish.  The  folloAving  letter  from  his  coadjutor  bears 
upon  the  subject : 

"  September  2,  1829. 
"  Oarissime, 

"  I  wrote  to  Porter  according  to  promise  and  informed  him  that  I  was 
about  completing  your  geography.  On  looking  over  the  ground  I  find 
that  I  have  a  hard  path  to  travel — for  instance,  the  ethno-genealogico- 
geographico-mythico  representations  about  the  early  settlers.  Is  it 
possible  to  concrete  or  abstract  Rosenrauller's  discourse  into  any  thing 
tolerable?  I  beg  yon,  notwithstanding  the  disgust  you  have  acquired 
for  the  labour,  to  achieve  V impossible,  and,  without  delay,  make  out  an 
abstract  of  Phcenicia,  and  such  other  parts  as  you  have  in  the  second 
volume.  N.  B.  I  have  put  the  references  into  parentheses,  for  your 
brackets  will  disfigure  the  book  exceedingly,  and  I  find  that  small  let- 
lers  look  the  best:  e.  g.  (Josh,  xliii ;  10,  11.  Bab.  lxxxviii.  7,  9).  Set 
;ibout  this,  and  we  may  hope  to  have  the  whole  thing  accomplished  this 
month.  Make  yourself  a  paper  book  and  leave  an  inch  blank  at  the 
fold  of  the  sheet.  Your  MS.  is  almost  intangible  (ut  ita  dicam),  one 
must  handle  it  as  tenderly  as  a  scroll  of  Herculaneum. 

I  have  got  all  done  (errors  excepted)  except  Band  I.  Theil  I.  and 
Die  biblische  west,  in  the  end  of  the  green  one.  I  have  carefully  verified 
all  the  references,  many  of  which,  either  from  typographical  errors  or 
different  division  of  chapter  or  verse,  are  irrelevant.     I  have  taken  a 

reading  together.  The  sickness  of  my  mother  called  me  to  Lawrence  on  Sat- 
urday evening,  and  I  think  of  going  again  to-night. 

"Nothing  but  a  duty  of  such  a  kind — or  one  equally  important — would 
induce  me  to  be  absent  from  these  exercises.  Yours, 

"  Monday  evening.  R.  B." 


.Ex.  20.]  DAILY    STUDY.  193 

good  deal  from  Mansford,  who,  by-the-way,  is  -wrong  wherever  he  is 
original.  Eosenmiiller  strangely  says  (upon  Tarsus)  that  Gamaliel  had 
a  school  there.  Paul's  words  are  :  "  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gamaliel 
in  this  city."  *  By  the  first  opportunity  I  will  send  my  MS.  as  far  as 
done.  I  have  numbered  the  folios  consecutively  after  yours.  Leave 
what  you  may  write  unpaged.  u  j  -^  ^  ■» 

The  advice  here  given  was  taken,  and  the  book  appeared 
as  the  joint  work  of  the  two  brothers. f 

So  far  as  I  am  aware  this  little  book  was  the  pioneer  of  its 
class  in  the  country.  Other  and  fuller  works  have  since  ap- 
peared ;  but  probably  none  so  compendious,  and  few  more 
carefully  built  up  upon  ascertained  facts. 

"  Sept.  2.  Eead  in  Job,  34-3G  chapters.  Eead  in  German  the  fifth 
(and  last)  act  of  Schiller's  Wallenstein.  This  play,  though  a  very  fine 
one,  is  too  long.  Schiller  had  not  in  perfection  the  faculty  mentioned  by 
Pope  'of  rejecting  his  own  thoughts.' I  His  plots,  too,  are  somewhat 
obscure.  The  characters  in  this  play  are  not  so  strongly  marked  as  in 
Don  Carlos,  nor  the  tragic  interest  so  deep  and  overwhelming.  I  rank 
it  therefore  below  that  notable  tragedy  in  the  scale  of  merit,  but,  at 
the  same  time,  infinitely  above  the  common  run  of  modern  dramas. 
Eead  in  Spanish  '  La  Oonquista  de  Mejico  IV  :  17-20.'  Eead  in  English 
the  remainder  of  the  '  Es<ay  on  Criticism,'  '  The  Eape  of  the  Lock,'  and 
the  '  Elegy  to  the  Memory  of  an  Unfortunate  Lady ; '  also  a  few  chapters 
in  Denham  and  Clappertou's  '  Travels  in  Africa.'  Eead  in  Latin  half  of 
Schultens's  translation  of  Extracts  from  the  Ilamasa.  Eead  in  Hebrew 
with  E.  Brown,  2  Samuel,  7-9.  Eeceived  a  note  from  J.  ~W.  A.  with 
his  MS.  of  the  Sacred  Geography. 

*  See  a  full  account  of  this  matter  in  Conybearc  and  Howson. 

\  In  a  letter  dated  September  14,  1829,  his  brother  James  thus  refers  to, 
the  joint  literary  task  in  which  they  had  been  engaged: 

"  Addison  has  consigned  to  me  his  papers  and  nqtes  upon  Sacred  Geogra- 
phy, and  I  have  been  engaged  in  finishing  the  book  [for  the  A.  S.  S.  U.],  so 
that  we  shall  have  it  between  us.  The  labour  has  been  very  irksome.  I  spent 
twelve  hours  last  week  verifying  the  texts  of  Scripture  referred  to,  by  looking 
for  all  of  them.  The  mere  geographical  part  is  very  interesting.  Altogether 
it  is  discouraging  to  find  how  little  is  really  known  of  the  site  of  many  ancient 
places." — Familiar  Letters,  vol  I.,  p.  134. 

\  Oddly  enough,  Goethe  somewhere  attributes  to  Schiller  this  very  power. 
9 


194  POPE.  [1829. 

"  Sept.  3.  Read  in  Hebrew  Job,  27-28  :  in  German,  '  Tbe  Sorrows 
of  "Werther ' :  about  forty  pnges.  Goetbe  bas  in  eminent  degree  tbe 
quality  which  I  thought  was  wanting  in  his  compeer  Schiller.  Though 
minute  in  his  descriptions  and  details,  all  seems  compart  and  con- 
densed ;  there  are  no  loose  ends — no  purpurii  panni.  He  has  also 
the  enviable  power  of  describing  simple  familiar  things  without  tbe 
least  tincture  of  mawkish  affectation.  Read  in  Pope's  works :  '  Sappho 
to  Pbaon,'  'Eloisa  to  Abelard,'  and  'The  Temple  of  Fame.'  In 
Eloisa  to  Abelard  there  are  abundant  specimens  of  rich  and  polished 
diction  ;  .but  what  particularly  charms  me  is  this  exquisite  paragraph, 
especially  tbe  last  couplet,  which  I  think  inimitably  beautiful : 

"  For  thee,  the  Fates,  severely  kind,  ordain, 
A  cool  suspense  from  pleasure  and  from  pain  ; 
Thy  life  a  long,  dead  calm  of  fixed  repose, 
No  pulse  that  riots,  and  no  blood  that  glows ; 
Still  as  the  sea,  e'er  winds  were  taught  to  blow, 
Or  moving  spirits  bade  the  waters  flow  ; 
Soft  as  the  slumbers  of  a  saint  forgiven, 
Aud  mild  as  opening  gleams  of  promised  heaven."  * 

"  Read  also  Denham  and  Clapperton. — In  Hebrew,  2  Sam.  chaps. 
10-12,  with  R.  Brown. — Finished  Schultens's  Extracts  from  the  Ilam- 
«sa." 

"  Sept.  4.  Read  in  Hebrew,  Job,  39-40.  In  German,  tbe  begin- 
ning of  the  chapter  on  Phoenicia  in  Rosenmuller's  Alterthumskunde. 
Read  in  Pope's  works :  '  January  and  May,'  and  '  Tbe  Wife  of  Bath.' 
I  cannot  help  feeling  contempt  for  a  great  genius  who  would  select 
such  passages  for  imitation  as  these  obscene  absurdities  of  Chaucer. 
The  grossness  is  considerably  refined,  but  enough  remains  to  make 
them  disgusting.  J.  W.  A.  came  with  the  remainder  of  the  Geogra- 
phy.    Read  and  abridged  Rosenmuller's  chapter  on  Phoenicia. 

"  Sept.  15.  Read  in  Hebrew  1  Kings,  5-6.  Revised  and  corrected 
Sacred  Geography  (in  part).  Read  in  Spanish  El  Fray  Gerundio. 
Read  in  Hebrew  with  R.  Brown,  1  Chron.  16-19.  Read  the  Dunciad. 
I  have  lately  read  over  all  Pope's  poems,  except  bis  Homer.  Be  has 
far  more  wit  than  I  supposed,  but  very  little  splendour  or  elevation  of 
genius,  it  appears  to  me.  He  seems  perfectly  cold  and  heartless  too. 
Johnson's  remark  is  just  that  Pope  does  not  seem  to  have  composed 
with   ease.     His   rhymes   are   often   imperfect   and   bis  epithets  ill— 

*  Janes  250-255. 


iEr.20.]  BIBLICAL    REPERTORY.  195 

chosen.  All  his  writings  are  elaborated  with  much  p;iin  and  difficulty. 
He  uses  upon  elevated  subjects  more  colloquial  language  than  a  poet  of 
these  times  would.  Finally,  like  Swift,  he  is  evidently  fond  of  obsceue 
images." 

Mr.  Alexander  had  about  this  time  more  serious  employ- 
ment for  his  pen  than  scribbling  random  paragraphs  for  the 
Patriot  and  the  Emporium,  or  writing  verses  and  essays  for 
Dr.  Snowden's  magazine.  He  now  appears  for  the  first  time 
as  a  contributor  to  the  pages  of  the  Biblical  Repertory,  which 
has  since,  and  largely  through  his  influence,  become  well- 
known,  and  which  was  afterwards  to  be  adorned  by  some 
of  the  maturest  results  of  his  scholarship  and  genius. 

His  brother,  writing  to  Dr.  Hall  from  his  room  in  the  col- 
lege,  where  he  was  then  tutor  of  mathematics,  thus  refers  to 
the  projected  publication.  The  letter  is  dated  September  20, 
1828,  just  about  the  time  that  Mr.  Alexander  was  admitted  to 
the  Junior  class. 

"  You  have  here  another  prospectus  of  another  Princeton  work, 
which  I  trust  will  prove  honourable  to  us,  and  useful  to  the  cause."* 

This  plan  was  fully  and  successfully  carried  out,  and  re- 
sulted in  the  appearance  of  the  Biblical  Repertory^  which, 
begun  in  1825,  is  still  continued  under  the  charge  of  its  origi- 
nal editor. 

If  my  memory  serves  me,  the  first  volume  was  entirely 
filled  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Hodge  and  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Alex- 
nnder.  This  I  was  told  once  by  the  latter.  The  second  vol- 
ume, besides  a  number  of  reprints  from  foreign  sources,  con- 
tained translations  from  the  pen  of  the  editor  Mr.  Hodge, 
Prof.  Patton,  President  James  Marsh  (then  Professor  at 
Hampden  Sidney),  and  others.  The  first  appearance  of  Mr. 
Alexander  in  the  pages  of  the  Repertory  was  in  1827,  in  an 
article  translated  from  John  Alphonso  Turretin,  entitled, 
"  Refutation  of  the  Hypothesis  of  the  Papists  in  Relation  to 
the  Interpretation  of  the  Scriptures."  f     This  article  at  once 

*  Familiar  Letters,  Vol.  I.,  p.  65.  \  See  Bib.  Rep.,  1827,  p.  275. 


196  THE    REPERTORY.  [1829. 

excited  notice,  and  was  attributed  in  Boston  to  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander.  This  was  immediately  followed  by  a  translation 
from  Justin  the  Martyr,  entitled  "  Exhortation  to  the  Greeks." 
The  style  of  this  article  is  exceedingly  mature,  and  the  render- 
ing of  the  Greek  idiom  not  only  of  the  Christian  Father  bnt 
of  the  classical  authors  to  whom  he  copiously  refers,  exceed- 
ingly happy.  The  diction  is  pure  and  terse,  and  the  language 
for  the  most  part  Saxon,  or  remarkably  strong  and  idio- 
matic English.  While  he  availed  himself  freely  of  the 
helps  at  hand  in  interpreting  Homer,  the  translations  from 
less  familiar  writers  seem  to  be  his  own.  I  may  cite  by  way 
of  example  the  words  of  Orpheus  to  Musaeus  and  his  other 
children  (p.  341),  commencing, 

<I>3e'y£o/iai  ols  ZffJus  tori,  Supay  §'  «7n'3f(r2Se  (3e$r]\oi 
Hdures  o^Sis  ■   (TV  8'  "move  (f)a€(T(})6f)ov  exyove  fJ-rjvrjs, 

of  which  he  gives  a  literal  and  yet  spirited  and  nervous  ver- 
sion :  * 

The  Repertory  was  at  this  time  temporarily  in  the  hands 
of  Professor  Patton,  who  performed  the  duties  of  editor  in  the 
absence  of  Mr.  Hodge  in  Europe.  Mr.  Alexander  does  not 
appear  to  have  contributed  any  thing  in  1828.  In  1829  the 
Biblical  Repertory,  which  had  been  up  to  that  time  little 
more  than  a  series  of  reprints  and  translations,  was  given  up 

*  I  -will  speak  to  those  to  whom  it  is  allowed.  Let  the  uninitiated  be  ex- 
cluded :  Listen  thou,  Musaeus,  child  of  the  shining  moon,  while  I  utter  the 
truth,  nor  let  that  which  has  before  been  infused  into  thy  breast,  deprive  thee 
of  thy  precious  life.  Behold  the  Divine  Word,  and  give  thyself  wholly  to  it, 
ordering  aright  the  intelligent  receptacle  of  thy  heart.  Come  up  hither,  and 
contemplate  the  sole  King  of  the  universe.  He  is  one.  He  is  self-existent. 
ne  alone  created  all  things.  Though  good  himself,  he  gives  evils  to  his  crea- 
tures, bloody  wars,  and  lamentable  sorrows,  and  besides  him  there  is  no  su- 
preme king.  I  cannot  behold  him  ;  for  clouds  are  round  about  him,  and  the 
mortal  pupils  of  mortal  eyes  are  unable  to  look  upon  the  ruler  of  the  universe. 
He  is  established  upon  the  brazen  heavens.  He  sits  upon  a  golden  throne  and 
treads  with  his  feet  upon  the  earth,  and  stretches  out  his  right  hand  to  all  the 
ends  of  the  ocean.  Then  the  lofty  mountains  tremble,  the  rivers,  and  the 
depths  of  the  hoary  sea. 


iET.20.]  CHANGE    OF   PLAN.  197 

by  Mr.  Hodge  its  founder  into  the  hands  of  "  an  association 
of  gentlemen,"  to  be  published  as  a  quarterly  Review.* 

The  change  in  the  form  and  aims  of  the  Journal  took  place, 
as  was  contemplated  in  the  new  prospectus,  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1830.  With  1830  also  commences  the  present 
numbering  of  the  volumes.  The  periodical  from  this  time 
until  1837  bears  the  title  of  "Biblical  Repertory  and  Theo- 
logical Review,"  and  may  be  considered  as  embracing  in  its 
plan  the  whole  range  of  theological  and  religious  subjects. 
The  ninth  volume,  which  was  issued  in  1837,  is  the  first  of  the 
whole  collection  which  bears  the  title  Biblical  Repertory  and 
Princeton  Review.  It  had  already  fallen  under  "  the  direc- 
tion "  of  the  coterie  of  Presbyterian  clergymen  and  literary 
gentlemen  of  Princeton  and  its  environs,  as  early  as  the  begin- 
ning of  1829.  Mr.  Patton  seems  to  have  been  the  most  active 
spirit  of  the  new  management,  though  the  Professors  of  the 
Seminary  and  College,  and  such  men  as  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yeomans, 
Professor  Marsh,  Professor  Bush,  the  Rev.  (now  Doctor)  R. 
J.  Breckinridge,  to  say  nothing  of  a  host  of  others,  lent  val- 
uable assistance.  Mr.  Hodge  returned  from  Europe,  where  he 
had  been  pursuing  a  course  of  study  at  the  German  universi- 
ties, in  1828,  and  delivered  his  inti-oductory  lecture  to  his  class 
in  the  Seminary  on  the  seventh  of  November  of  that  year. 
He  began  by  saying  : 

"  In  entering  anew  upon  my  duties  in  this  institution,  I  feel  con 
strained  to  acknowledge  the  goodness  of  God,  by  which  I  have  been 
so  kindly  preserved,  and  restored  to  the  field  of  labour  to  which  ho 
lias  called  rue.  As  it  was  a  desire  to  become  more  useful  to  you,  that 
led  me  to  leave  for  so  protracted  a  period,  my  friends  and  country,  my 
heart  lias  been  continually  turned  towards  this  institution;  and  it 
frequently  occurred  to  me,  that  should  I  live  to  return  to  my  native 
land,  I  would  endeavour  to  impress  upon  your  minds  the  practical 
truths  which  the  circumstances  of  foreign  states  and  countries  had 
deeply  impressed  upon  my  own.  It  is  true  the  vividness  of  these  im- 
pressions has  faded  away,  but  the  convictions  in  which  they  resulted 


*  See  advertisement  to  the  fourth  volume. 


198  ITS    WRITERS.  [1829. 

It  is  no  doubt  to  the  personal  influence  of  Mr.  Hodge  that 
the  Repertory  is  indebted  for  the  original  labours  of  Professor 
Tholuck,  by  which  its  columns  were  about  this  time  occasion- 
ally enriched. 

From  the  date  of  his  return  from  Europe  Mr.  Hodge  again 
gave  much  time  to  the  Review,  and  after  the  removal  of  Mr. 
Patton  from  Princeton  became  once  more  its  sole  editor,  and 
has  continued  to  this  day  to  be  one  of  its  chief  writers  and  its 
sustaining  and  animating  spirit. 

Some  of  the  very  best  things  ever  written  by  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander  and  Dr.  Miller,  were  written  in  the  first  instance 
for  this  publication.  The  same  may  be  said  of  that  brilliant 
genius  and  lamented  clergyman,  Prof.  Albert  B.  Dod,  of  the 
College  of  Xew  Jersey.  The  brothers  James  and  Addison 
Alexander  also  continued  their  connection  with  the  periodical) 
and  now  began  to  write  original  articles.  In  after  years,  as 
long  as  they  lived,  they  were  still  accustomed  from  time  to 
time  to  make  use  of  "the  Repertory"  as  the  chosen  vehicle 
of  their  learned  and  graceful  disquisitions  upon  all  subjects 
which  were  suited  to  the  pages  of  such  a  Journal.  In  1838, 
we  learn  from  h^s  own  diary,  Mr.  Alexander  became  for  a  short 
time  one  of  the  editors,  and  wrote  more  copiously  than  ever. 
A  number  of  these  articles  were  afterwards  republished,  with 
strong  eulogy,  in  the  pages  of  an  eclectic  quarterly  which 
made  its  appearance  periodically  in  Scotland.  The  volume 
for  1829  contained,  besides  Professor  Hodge's  Introductory 
Lecture,  and  a  number  of  valuable  criticisms  and  disserta- 
tions, a  biographical  sketch  of  Erasmus,  drawn  mainly  from 
sources  furnished  by  Adolph  Miiller  in  his  "  Leben  des  Eras- 
mus von  Rotterdam,"  &c.  This  life-like  portrait  of  the  great 
scholar  of  the  Reformation  has  been  attributed  to  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir,  and  is  claimed  by  him  in  a  catalogue  of 
his  own  articles  which  he  made  years  after.  *     The  only  articles 

*  This  is  possibly  a  mistake,  as  Mr.  Alexander  said  he  was  uncertain  about 
some  of  the  articles  on  his  own  list  of  his  own  contributions,  and  as  in  his 
brother's  copy  this  article  on  Erasmus  bears  the  characteristic  signature,  in 
pencil,  "  By  J.  "W.  Alexander."     It  is  possible  that  both  had  a  hand  in  it. 


Mt.m.i  THE    DRUSES.  199 

certainly  contributed  to  this  volume  by  Addison  (as  he  was 
and  still  is,  fondly  called  by  the  various  members  of  his 
father's  family)  were  the  translations  from  the  Latin  of  Flatt 
on  the  Deity  of  Christ,  and  an  elaborate  effort  entitled  "  The 
History  and  Religious  Opinions  of  the  Druses."  Of  these  ar- 
ticles the  former  was  in  reality  one,  but  was  divided  into  two 
parts  which  appeared  at  different  times,  the  first  part  consti- 
tuting the  leading  treatise  of  the  volume.  This  performance 
does  not  fail  to  show  the  same  acquaintance  with  the  technical 
terms  of  the  seventeenth  century  which  had  led  the  literati 
of  Boston  to  attribute  the  translation  of  Alphonso  Turretin, 
which  came  out  the  year  before,  to  the  father ;  never  once 
suspecting  that  the  article  in  question  was  by  his  precocious 
son.  These  able  reproductions  of  the  theological  Latin  writers 
of  the  post-Reformation  period  may,  however,  be  safely  set 
down  to  the  guiding  influence  of  Dr.  Alexander,  who  had 
more  to  do  than  any  one  else  in  giving  shape  and  direction  to 
his  son's  studies,  and  who,  as  is  well  known,  was  himself  a 
devoted  admirer  of  the  old  vellum  quartos  and  folios  of  the 
age  immediately  succeeding  the  times  of  Erasmus  and  Luther. 
But  in  his  second  article  for  the  year  1829,  Mr.  Alexander 
must  have  broken  away  from  all  restraints,  however  wise  and 
gentle,  and  followed  the  bent  of  his  own  strong  inclinations 
and  enthusiastic  genius.  The  essay  on  "  the  Druses  "  is  one 
of  the  most  singular  and  startling;  demonstrations,  amonsx  the 
many  that  he  has  left  us,  of  his  learning  and  capacity.  The 
theme  was  one  which  exactly  suited  him.  It  was  strange, 
mysterious,  difficult,  romantic ;  calling  for  all  the  hidden  re- 
sources of  his  historical  and  linguistic  attainments;  as  well  as 
for  all  the  acumen  of  his  intellect,  and  delicacy  of  his  critical 
judgment;  and  bringing  into  play  not  only  his  powers  of 
reason  and  analysis,  but  his  impassioned  energy,  his  tal- 
ent for  rapid  and  graphic  description,  and  his  talent,  no 
less  surprising  in  one  who  was  still  scarcely  out  of  his  teens, 
for  the  mere  construction  of  a  sentence.  The  aim  of  the 
article  is  to  arrive,  if  possible,  at  an  approximate  solu- 
tion of  the  vexed  questions  touching  the  origin  and  early 


200  EXTRACTS.  [1829. 

history  of  this  mysterious  fraternity  or  sect  of  the  Mowah- 
hidan  of  Mount  Libanus.  The  treatise  is  mainly  historical 
and  critical,  hut  it  is  marked  by  broad  outline  views,  and 
vigorous  generalizations,  together  with  a  marvellous  acquain- 
tance with  the  repositories  of  oriental  learning,  and  with  eve- 
ry thing  relating  to  the  oriental  people,  and  particularly  the 
Arabs ;  as  well  as  by  masterly  sketches  of  character,  and  live- 
ly and  engaging  but  condensed  narrative.  As  a  specimen  of 
his  narrative  style,  there  are  perhaps  some  who  will  be  pleased 
to  have  their  attention  directed  to  the  following  extract : 

"  The  notorious  prince  just  mentioned  (ITakem  Biamrillah)  was  the 
fifth  Fatimite  sovereign  after  Obeidallah,  and  the  third  who  reigued  in 
Egypt.  He  ascended  the  throne,  A.  H.  386,  at  a  very  early  age ;  and 
after  some  years  of  fickle  and  inactive  government,  began  to  exhibit 
symptoms  of  the  wildest  madness,  combined  with  the  most  extrava- 
gant impiety.  His  official  acts  at  this  period  of  his  reign,  as  recorded 
by  Makrizi,  are  pitiable  specimens  of  mingled  folly,  insanity,  and  wick- 
edness. In  one  of  his  edicts  he  commanded  all  the  dogs  of  Cairo  to  be 
massacred ;  in  another  he  forbids  the  women  of  the  city  to  leave  their 
homes  on  any  pretext  or  at  any  time.  On  one  day  he  required  that 
the  names  of  the  first  three  khalifs  should  be  cursed  at  public  worship, 
and  on  the  next  revoked  the  order.  In  one  decree  he  would  regulate 
with  minuteness  and  precision  the  distinctive  dress  to  be  worn  by 
Jews  and  Christians,  and  before  the  change  could  well  be  made,  would 
issue  another  altering  the  fashion  and  requiting  strict  obedience  upon 
pain  of  death.  As  his  malady  increased,  he  grew  restless,  and  passed 
whole  nights  in  pompous  marches  through  the  streets  of  Cairo,  requir- 
ing the  bazars  to  be  kept  open  and  the  shops  to  be  illuminated.  With 
an  intellect  thus  crazed,  and  under  the  influence  of  the  wild  specula- 
tions of  the  wildest  shiahs,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the  unhappy  mon- 
arch became  a  tool  in  the  hands  of  ambitious  and  fanatical  impostors, 
who  availed  themselves  of  his  insanity,  to  forward  their  own  schemes 
of  proselytisrn  or  aggrandizement."  * 

So  far  as  I  am  able  to  ascertain,  he  wrote  no  more  for  the 
Repertory  that  year. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  precisely  when  Mr.  Alex- 

*  Bib.  Rep.  1829,  p.  218. 


.Ex.  20.]  STUDY    OF   ARABIC.  201 

under  commenced  the  study  of  Arabic.  It  was  probably- 
even  before  he  had  mastered  the  Hebrew  grammar  prepared 
for  him  by  his  father,  that  is  when  he  was  a  very  little  boy. 
He  says  himself  it  was  when  he  was  nine  or  ten  years  old.* 
I  have  a  strong-  impression  that  he  found  an  old  Arabic  gram- 
mar on  a  shelf  in  "  the  study,"  or  else  in  the  litter  of  the  attic 
room  already  spoken  of,  and  that  he  had  familiarized  himself 
to  some  extent  with  its  outlandish  characters,  and,  I,  think 
gone  through  it  from  cover  to  cover,  before  any  member  of 
the  family  knew  that  he  was  acquainted  with  a  single  ortho- 
grapic  sign.  My  impression  is  that  I  was  told  so  by  a  near 
relative,  many  years  ago.  He  speaks  himself  of  his  "  early  and 
almost  unnatural  proclivity  to  oriental  studies  "  as  belonging 
to  the  period  of  his  "boyish  dreams,"  and  says  that  he  con. 
tinued  his  labours  in  this  strange  field,  after  his  college  course, 
at  which  time  he  "  read  the  whole  of  the  Koran  in  Arabic,  and 
the  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew."  His  brother  James,  in  a  let- 
ter to  Dr.  Hall  dated  April  4,  1828,  announces  that  Addison 
had  then  just  completed  the  Koran  in  Arabic,  and  speaks  of 
it  as  a  work  which  few  had  as  yet  attempted  in  America. 
Soon  after  learning  Arabic,  he  took  up  Persian,  Syriac  and 
Chaldee,  but  exactly  at  what  time  or  in  what  order  I  cannot 
tell. 

The  journal  sheds  abundant  light  on  these  later  studies. 
His  first  entry  so  far  as  is  known  was  on  the  first  of  January 
of  that  year,  on  which  day,  as  we  have  seen,  his  portion  of 
Arabic  was  the  19th  sura  al  Koran.  The  same  day  he  read 
also  the  19th  chapter  of  Exodus  in  Hebrew,  and  the  day  fol- 
lowing, the  20th  chapter  of  Exodns  in  Hebrew  and  the  16th 

*  Dr.  John  S.  Hart  has  substantially  confirmed  this  statement,  in  a  letter  to 
the  writer  of  these  pages.  He  says,  "  The  department  of  knowledge  which  he 
early  selected  was  that  of  language,  and  it  was  as  a  linguist  that  he  was  chiefly 
known.  While  reading  Arabic  with  him,  I  questioned  him  once  as  to  the 
origin  of  his  familiarity  with  that  copious  tongue.  He  told  me  he  began  the 
study  privately,  of  his  own  accord,  when  he  was  but  ten  years  old,  having 
found  accidentally  an  old  copy  of  the  Arabic  grammar  on  one  of  the  top  shelves 
of  his  father's  library.  He  seemed  as  familiar  with  the  Asiatic  tongues  as  with 
Latin  or  Greek." 

9* 


202  AN   OLD    TRADITION.  [1829. 

Ode  of  Hafiz  in  Persian  ;  and  this  in  addition  to  allotted  work 
in  Italian,  Latin,  German,  Greek,  French  and  Spanish.  These 
records  would  seem  to  imply  some  previous  acquaintance  with 
the  Arabic  and  Persian.  There  can  he  no  doubt  that  he  was 
somewhat  versed  in^both  of  these  languages  from  a  very  early 
period  of  his  boyhood. 

There  is  a  tradition  still  current  among  the  old  students 
of  Princeton  Seminary  that  somewhere  about  the  year  1821  a 
prize  was  awarded  to  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  for  the  best 
essay  on  Arabic  literature,  and  that  the  fact  was  published,  in 
the  newspapers.  The  story  runs,  that  alluding  to  the  matter, 
as  was  his  wont  when  any  thing  interested  him,  at  the  dinner- 
table,  Dr.  Alexander  expressed,  unbounded  astonishment  that 
such  an  error  should  have  been  committed,  as  it  was  well 
known  that  he  possessed  no  special  acquaintance  with  the 
language ;  whereupon  to  the  surprise  of  all  present  Addison, 
then  a  boy  of  twelve,  and  who  was  not  supposed  to  have 
studied  Arabic,  admitted  with  some  confusion  that  he  had 
written  the  article  in  question,  and  had  signed  it  A.  Alex- 
ander, never  dreaming  that  he  should  get  the  prize.  I  only 
mention  this  story  to  contradict  it.  There  is  certainly  not  a 
word  of  truth  in  it :  it  bears  its  own  refutation  on  its  face  ; 
though  in  different  forms  it  has  obtained  much  currency,  and 
has  been  repeated  in  my  hearing  by  a  number  of  highly  re- 
spectable clergymen.  The  young  scholar  -would  hardly  have 
assumed  his  father's  name  in  print,  or  even  his  favourite  initial. 
Besides  this,  the  facts  if  true  would  have  been  treasured  in  the 
family*     The  whole  thing  probably  grew  out  of  a  mistake  of 

*  Since  writing  the  above  I  have  received  the  following  account  of  the  mat- 
ter from  his  oldest  surviving  brother.     A  comparison  of  these  statements  with 
.those  of  Dr.  Beach  Jones  will  probably  bring  out  the  full  truth  relative  to  the 
report  in  question  : 

"  The  ground  of  the  rumour  about  the  prize  essay  was  doubtless  this. 
A  translation  from  the  Latin  made  by  him  was  published  in  the  Repertorv,  then 
conducted  by  Prof.  Patton  during  the  absence  of  Prof.  Hodge  in  Europe.  A 
Boston  Magazine  in  speaking  of  this  translation  attributed  it  to  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander,  not  supposing  it  likely  to  be  the  production  of  a  youth  still  in  his 


^t.20.]  STUDY    OF    ARABIC.  203 

Mr.  Robert  Walsh  with  regard  to  the  authorship  of  an  article 
in  the  American  Quarterly  Review  on  the  subject  of  Persian 
literature,  which  will  be  explained  presently.  This  article 
was  written  by  the  son  though  at  a  somewhat  later  period, 
and  was  attributed  by  Mr.  Walsh  to  the  father.  It  is  quite 
certain,  however,  that  Addison  was  somewhat  acquainted 
with  Arabic  literature  at  twelve  years  of  age  ;  perhaps  better 
acquainted  with  it  than  many  who  were  at  that  time  regarded 
as  learned  men.  It  is  absolutely  certain  that  he  had  studied 
both  Arabic  and  Persian  to  some  degree,  and  probably  also 
Chaldee  and  Syriae,  before  he  entered  college. 

An  intimate  friend  says,  in  an  editorial  notice  of  his  death 
in  the  Central-Presbyterian,  "  From  his  childhood  he  exhibited 
the  rarest  talent.  His  father  removed  to  Princeton  in  1812, 
and  evincing  even  at  that  early  age  great  fondness  for  study, 
he  was  allowed  to  take  his  own  course.  From  ten  to  twelve  he 
commenced  the  study  of  the  Arabic,  and  before  fourteen  years 
of  age  had  read  the  Koran."  Dr.  Moore  has  good  authority 
for  these  statements,*  though,  as  we  have  seen,  Addison  did 
not  complete  the  Koran  until  he  was  nineteen.  The  alleged 
date  of  his  commencement  of  the  study  is  doubtless  sufficiently 
exact.  Mr.  Alexander's  own  expression  is  "  nine  or  ten." 
Dr.  Moore  is  of  the  impression  that  he  commenced  the  study 
of  Persian  very  soon  afterwards,  and  in  this  opinion  I  agree 
with  him.  Indeed  he  must  have  done  so,  if  we  are  to  account 
upon  any  intelligible  hypothesis  for  the  commonest  entries  in 
his  diary. 

It  is  a  sad  commentary  upon  the  evanescence  of  fame  that 

minority.  The  article  may  be  found  in  one  of  the  numbers  of  the  Repertory 
for  1827." 

It  is  a  translation  from  the  younger  Turretin,  and  will  be  found  in  the  vol- 
ume of  the  Biblical  Repertory  for  that  year,  p.  1Y5.  The  writer  was  at  that 
time  eighteen  years  old. 

*  Dr.  Hall  in  the  Funeral  Sermon.  Dr.  Hall  writes  that  he  cannot  vouch 
for  the  minute  accuracy  of  these  statements,  having  merely  spoken  to  the  best 
of  his  recollection  on  these  and  similar  points. 


204  ROBERT    WALSH.  [1820. 

the  name  of  such  a  man  as  the  editor  of  the  Philadelphia  Ga- 
zette and  American  Quarterly  should  now  be  strange  to 
many  who  think  themselves  versed  in  the  literature  of  the 
day.  Mr.  Robert  Walsh  may  be  said  to  have  been  at  one 
time  the  prince  of  elegant  letters  in  this  country.  lie  was  the 
pioneer  of  that  robust  American  scholarship  which  has  since 
made  itself  felt  to  the  extremities  of  Europe.  His  great 
work  in  defence  of  America  against  England*  is  one  of  the 
most  vigorous  and  cogent  arguments  that  has  ever  been  pen- 
ned. He  was  a  close  student  and  happy  imitator  of  the 
Latin  classics.  His  knowledge  of  current  literature  in  the 
various  languages  of  the  Continent  was  amazing.  His  English 
style  seems  to  have  been  influenced  by  that  of  Canning,  for 
whose  talents  as  a  writer  he  entertained  an  extravagant  ad- 
miration. It  has  been  said  of  Macaulay  that  he  is  almost  the 
only  master  of  modern  English  who  has  left  no  sentence  that 
cannot  be  strictly  parsed.  The  same  high  praise  is  perhaps 
due  to  Mr.  Walsh. f  He  was  in  his  generation  honoured  by 
the  crowned  sovereigns  of  France,  and  performed  his  part  in 
the  cultivated  society  of  the  French  capitol  with  grace  and 
dignity,  and  with  a  singular  measure  of  affable  tact  and  savoir 
/aire.  He  was  the  Maecenas  J  of  tasteful  art  in  every  form,  in 
an  age  that  did  not  lack  its  Maros.     He  encouraged  every 

*  The  title-page  now  before  me  runs  as  follows  : 

"An  Appeal  from  the  Judgments  of  Great  Britain  respecting  the  United 
States  of  America.  Part  First.  Containing  an  Historical  Outline  of  their  Merits 
and  Wrongs  as  Colonies ;  and  Strictures  upon  the  Calumnies  of  the  British 
Writers.     By  Robert  Walsh,  Jr. 

'  Quod  quisque  fecit,  patitur:  antorem  scelus 
Repetit,  suoque  premitur  exemplo  nocens.— Senec. 

"  Second  Edition :  Philadelphia,  published  by  Mitchell,  Ames  &  White. 
William  Brown,  Printer,  1819," 

f  Mr.  Walsh  is  described  by  Dr.  Hall  as  being  a  man  below  the  medium 
height,  with  sandy  hair  and  a  dignified,  intellectual  face.     He  wore  spectacles. 

%  "Sunt  Majcenates,  non  deerunt,  Flacci  Marones." — Martial,  8.  56. 


Mt.  20.]  OPINIONS   OF    HIM.  205 

honourable  aspirant,  and  many  a  modest  young  man  owed  his 
success  in  life  to  this  generous  protection.  Mr.  Walsh  was 
not  slow  to  perceive  merit ;  and  was  one  of  the  first  to  give  a 
helping  hand  to  the  two  sons  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  who 
were  then  just  struggling  into  print.  His  letters  to  the  elder 
of  these  youths  are  full  of  kindness  and  wise  counsel.  There 
is  an  admirable  and  affectionate  account  of  him  in  the  pages 
of  the  Princeton  Magazine,*  which  is  the  work  of  his  friend 
Dr.  Hall  of  Trenton. 

There  are  numerous  allusions  to  the  great  litterateur,  in  the 
Familiar  Letters  to  Dr.  Hall.  Writing  from  Trenton,  May  4, 
1829,  his  correspondent  says: 

"  I  entertain  lively  anticipations  with  regard  to  the  results  of  your 
introduction  to  the  modern  Johnson.  There  are  few  men  in  the  coun- 
try whose  acquaintance  would  be  a  greater  prize.  May  you  have  many 
profitable  and  pleasant  hours  in  his  conversazioni.  I  hope  that  you 
will  come  forth  from  the  den  of  lions,  unscathed  as  Daniel." 

Again,  April  17,  1835,  he  says: 

"I  shall  miss  Walsh  very  much  if  he  goes  abroad,  for  his  pithy 
paragraphs  have  become  a  necessary  condiment." 

On  another  occasion  he  points  out  a  single  error  in  Walsh's 
English,  viz.,  the  saying  " I  doubt  that"  for  "  I  doubt  whetherP 
(Vol.  I.  p.  246.)  On  still  another  occasion,  writing  from 
Princeton,  he  says : 

"  I  would  subscribe  two  prices  for  a  bona  fide  old-time  TValshian 
gazette.     I  owe  something  to  that  man. 

"  '  But  why  then  publish  ?    Granville  the  polite 

And  knowing  Walsh  would  tell  me  I  could  write.'  " — Pope. 

Writing  from  Charlotte  Court-House,  Oct.  27,  1840,  soon 
after  a  visit  to  the  University  of  Virginia,  he  says : 

*  Princeton  Magazine,  p.  361.      The  single  volume  of  this  periodical  has 
been  long  out  of  print. 


206  WALSH    IN    PARIS.  [1829. 

"  Their  professors  do  more,  especially  in  the  way  of  lecture,  than 
any  I  know.  Bonnycastle  is  a  wonderful  man  for  genius  and  learning. 
Tucker  is  a  man  of  elegant  English  gentlemanhood ;  just  like  "Walsh  in 
the  cast  of  his  mind,  and  his  talk." 

Still  as;am  he  writes  to  Dr.  Hall : 

"  One  of  the  few  things  I  can  read  is  Walsh's  Letters  to  the  National 
Intelligencer." 

And  on  Jan.  6,  1843: 

"  Walsh  writes  with  as  much  vigour  and  pith  as  ever  for  the  National 
Intelligencer.  He  gave  Baird  a  grand  feu  dejoie  in  his  last.  Ilis  health 
is  quite  good." 

And  in  1844  he  writes,  still  in  the  same  strain  : 

"  I  rejoice  that  Walsh  has  the  Consulship.  *  *  I  never  tire  of  his 
ana,  which  are  copious  during  the  vacation  of  Congress." 

And  in  1846  : 

"  Walsh's  letters  in  the  National  Intelligencer  are  equal  to  his  best 
days." 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1851,  we  have  the  following  interest- 
ing entry  in  the  epistolary  journal  kept  hy  the  older  brother 
when  he  was  in  Paris  : 

"  Mr.  "Walsh  has  gone  out  to  St.  Gennain-en-Laze.  Tie  sent  me  a 
most  warm  and  characteristic  letter,  mistaking  one  for  Addison,  and 
went  to  the  Director  of  the  National  (once  Boyal)  Library,  and  re- 
quested that  I  might  he  introduced  to  the  principal  Orientalists  of 
Paris."  * 

It  was  with  unalloyed  pleasure  that  the  vigorous  and  kind- 
hearted  old  man  looked  hack  years  after  upon  the  start  of 
these  young  writers,  whom  he  had  helped  on  to  fame. 

It  was  doubtless  with  a  certain  sense  of  satisfaction  that 
Mr.  Alexander  found  that  his  venturous  efforts  in  unaccus- 

*  The  Italics  are  mine 


Mr.  20.]  RECOLLECTIONS    OF   DR.    JONES.  207 

tomed  fields  of  literature  Avere  not  slighted  by  the  famous 
Philadelphia  critic,  but  were  inserted  among  the  essays  of 
well-known  scholars,  and  suffered  to  make  their  way  in  the 
world,  under  the  most  favourable  auspices.  Little  did  he 
know,  however,  what  a  sensation  he  had  created  in  the  higher 
circles  of  American  criticism.  A  thrill  of  surprise  would  no 
doubt  have  shot  through  his  heart,  if  he  had  been  informed 
of  the  terms  in  which  the  terrible  and  fastidious  Mr.  Walsh 
was  speaking  of  his  contributions,  and  especially  those  on 
Oriental  studies  and  literature.  No  further  evidence  is  needed 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  great  proficiency  at  this  time  in  Arabic 
and  Persian,  and  indeed  the  Oriental  languages  in  general, 
than  will  result  from  a  simple  perusal  of  his  very  earliest 
printed  articles  on  these  subjects.  These  efforts  were  univer- 
sally admired  for  the  "  reach  of  scholarship  "  they  displayed 
and  their  comprehensive  yet  easy  mastery  of  the  topics  han- 
dled. Astonishment  was  expressed  that  so  much  genius  and 
learning  had  lain  so  long  perdu  and  almost  unsuspected.  The 
reminiscences  which  immediately  follow  are  from  the  pen  of 
Dr.  S.  B.  Jones  of  Bridgeton,  N.  J.  Referring  to  the  subject 
of  this  biographic  outline,  he  says  : 

"  My  earliest  acquaintance  with  the  fame  of  this  illustrious  man 
dates  hack  as  far  as  the  year  1831.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  I  removed 
to  Princeton ;  where  I  resided  for  four  years.  Young  as  Mr.  Alexander 
was  when  I  went  to  Princeton  "  [twenty-two  years  old],  "he  had  even 
then  acquired  the  reputation  of  a  prodigy  in  scholarship,  and  especially 
in  his  acquaintance  with  Oriental  languages  and  literature." 

Among  the  articles  furnished  by  him  for  the  American 
Quarterly  Review,  edited  by  Mr.  Walsh  of  Philadelphia,  was 
one  on  the  Persian  Language  or  Literature.*  The  number  of 
the  Review  containing  this  article  the  writer  of  the  recollec- 

*  "Mr.  Alexander  reviewed  Mohammedan  History  in  the  American  Quar- 
terly Review,  March  1830,  and  the  Gulistan  of  Sadi,  and  Anthon's  Horace,  in 
September  1830." — Forty  Years'  Familiar  Letters  of  J.  "W.  Alexander,  D.  D. 
Vol.  I.,  p.  135. 

The  article  on  the  Gulistan  may  be  the  one  referred  to  by  Dr.  Jones.     If 


208  AN   INCIDENT.  [1829. 

tions  I  am  now  using  has  unfortunately  lost :  but  he  well  re- 
members reading  it  with  wonder  and  admiration  ;  and  was  in- 
duced to  peruse  it  by  the  following  incident,  which  goes  to 
show  the  maturity  of  Mr.  Alexander's  views,  as  well  as  the 
extent  of  his  erudition,  at  a  very  early  age. 

Mr.  Walsh  was  professedly  a  Romanist,  but  of  a  Ration- 
alistic type.  It  is  Dr.  Jones's  judgment  that  as  such  he  could 
have  little  affinity  for  so  decided  a  Protestant  and  so  prom- 
inent a  Calvinistic  divine  as  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander;  while 
for  various  reasons  he  was  inclined  to  depreciate  and  stand 
aloof  from  Presbyterians.  I  give  the  rest  in  his  own  words  : 
"Upon  one  occasion,  after  expressing  to  a  friend  dis- 
paraging opinions  of  the  Presbyterian  clergy,  he  remarked 
that  there  was  one  Presbyterian  minister  with  whom  he 
would  like  to  be  personally  acquainted  ;  and  this  was  Dr. 
Alexander  of  Princeton.  Somewhat  surprised  that  Dr.  Alex- 
ander should  possess  attractions  for  one  of  such  opposite  views 
and  tastes  as  Robert  Walsh,  the  friend  enquired  his  reasons  ; 
when  Mr.  Walsh  replied,  that  '  he  was  so  rare  and  eminent  an 
Orientalist.'  Knowing  that  Dr.  Alexander  was  not  pre- 
eminent in  this  department,  the  friend  informed  him  that  he 
must  have  confounded  Dr.  Alexander's  son  with  his  father ; 
that  the  younger  Alexander  was  familiar  with  several  Oriental 
languages  with  which  the  father  had  no  acquaintance.  Mr. 
Walsh,  however,  questioned  the  correctness  of  his  friend's 
opinion,  on  the  ground  that  the  article,  or  articles,  sent  to  his 
Review  evinced  a  maturity  of  mind  and  a  thoroughness  and 
reach  of  scholarship  which  clearly  indicated  that  they  had 
been  written  by  an  old  rather  than  by  a  young  scholar."* 

The  letter  I  am  now  to  give,  from  Mr.  Alexander  to  Mr. 

not,  all  trace  of  it  is  now  lost.  The  Doctor  has  since  informed  me  that  my 
conjecture  as  to  the  missing  number  is  correct,  and  that  the  only  gap  in  the 
series  is  for  September  1830 ;  •which  seems  to  put  the  question  at  rest.  If 
there  were  another  link  necessary  to  the  chain  of  demonstration  it  is  furnished 
by  Dr.  Hart  of  Trenton,  who  has  seen  the  article  on  "  Gulistan  and  Sadi"  in 
the  Philadelphia  Library,  and  says  it  is  in  the  number  in  question. 

*  One  of  Mr.  Alexander's  brothers  writes  :  "  I  know  nothing  of  the  article 


Mi.m  CONTRIBUTIONS.  209 

Hall,  refers  to  another  contribution  from  the  pen  of  the  for- 
mer, and  which  I  take  to  he  the  same  which  is  mentioned  in 
the  Familiar  Letters  under  title  of  "  Mohammedan  History."  f 
Mr.  Walsh  was  evidently  much  pleased  with  it. 

"  Dear  Sir, 

"I  have  just  received  your  obliging  letter  dated  yesterday,  for  which 
accept  my  thanks.  I  am  heartily  chagrined  and  sorry,  that  my  evil 
fortune  should  have  led  me  to  write  upon  a  subject  any  how  allied  to 
that  selected  by  an  abler  writer,  and  then  to  aggravate  the  evil  by 
adopting  the  same  text.     It  will  certainly  look  very  strange  to  have 

to  which  you  refer.  *  *  *  From  the  first  establishment  of  the  American 
Quarterly  Review,  my  brothers  James  and  Addison  were  regular  contributors, 
and  the  articles  forwarded  by  them  were  varied  and  numerous.  They  had  at 
an  earlier  day  contributed  articles  to  the  columns  of  the  National  Gazette,  a 
paper  established  and  edited  by  Mr.  Walsh.  I  imagine  that  the  desire  of  Mr. 
Walsh  to  meet  Dr.  Alexander,  was  not  caused  particularly  by  the  article  to 
which  you  allude.  Mr.  Walsh  spent  his  life  in  a  state  of  bewilderment  on  this 
subject,  always  confounding  the  father  with  the  sons.  He  would  write  to  my 
father  on  the  subject  of  articles  furnished  by  my  brothers,  and  sometimes  sent 
him  a  cheque  in  payment  for  articles  written  by  them.  There  is  no  person 
living  who  is  fully  informed  on  the  subject  of  these  early  contributions  except 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Hall  of  Trenton.  Dr.  Hall  then  resided  in  Philadelphia,  and  I  am 
under  the  impression  that  all  articles  passed  through  his  hands  on  their  way  to 
Mr.  Walsh.  The  subject  of  Persian  Literature  was  a  favourite  one  with  Addi- 
son. I  think  that  long  before  the  establishment  of  the  American  Quarterly  he 
furnished  an  article  on  the  subject  to  the  Philadelphia  Monthly  Magazine,  a 
periodical  published  and  edited  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Snowden  in  1827  or  '28.  This  was 
immediately  after  his  graduation.  A  series  of  Persian  Proverbs  and  an  article 
on  the  Persian  Language  were  also  written  by  him  and  published  in  the  Prince- 
ton Magazine." 

The  article  in  the  Princeton  Magazine  on  the  Persian  Language  not  only 
gives  a  sketch  of  its  grammatical  peculiarities  but  also  of  its  relations  to  the 
Semitic  and  the  Indo-European  Group.  The  article  is  short,  and  so  far  as 
the  nature  of  the  subject  would  admit,  eminently  popular.  The  other  contribu- 
tion to  the  Princeton  Magazine  is  nothing  but  a  string  of  translated  proverbs. 

Dr.  Hall  thus  alludes  to  the  point,  in  a  letter  dated  March  27,  1867 :  "  You 
refer  to  his  connexion  with  Mr.  Walsh  and  the  American  Quarterly  (not  North 
American)  Review.  I  do  not  think  this  went  beyond  his  furnishing  a  few 
articles.     I  know  that  Walsh  was  always  confounding  the  three  Alexanders." 

f  Vid.  sup. 


210  LETTER   TO    DR.    HALL.  [1829. 

two  nominal  reviews  of  the  same  work  in  a  single  number.  I  have 
even  felt  some  disposition  to  withdraw  my  article  ;  but  if  the  editor  is 
content  to  have  such  a  duplicate,  I  suppose  I  might  as  well  agree  to  it. 
The  English  of  the  titles  is  as  follows  : 

1.  Thousand  and  One  Nights,  in  Arabic,  &c.  Edited  by  Dr.  M. 
Habicht. 

2.  Thousand  and  One  Nights,  translated  in  full  by  M.  Habicht, 
von  der  Hagen,  and  K.  Schall. 

The  running  title  might  be  '  Eise  and  Progress  of  the  Khalifat.' 

With  respect  to  the  sheets,  I  entrust  them  cheerfully  to  your  in- 
spection if  you  will  undertake  the  task. 

I  must  beg  to  have  two  notes  inserted,  which  are  warning  in  the 
MS.  I  cannot  designate  the  proper  place  of  either,  but  leave  that  to 
your  judgment.  The  first  relates  to  the  opinion  expressed  of  the 
character  of  the  Koran,  and  is  in  these  words.  '  It  may  be  asked  how 
this  view  of  the  case  is  to  be  reconciled  with  the  enthusiastic  admira- 
tion of  the  Koran  as  a  literary  composition,  which  prevails  among  Mo- 
hammedans. The  answer  is,  that  its  merit,  in  their  eyes,  or  rather  in 
their  ears,  is  altogether  metrical  and  musical.  To  use  the  words  of  a 
distinguished  orientalist :  '  Sa  superiority  consiste  moins  dans  l'invention 
et  dans  les  images,  que  dans  le  charme  incxprimable  de  la  diction,  dans 
l'admirable  harmonie  du  rythme,  et  dans  le  retour  des  rimes  redoublees, 
qui  produisent  un  si  grand  effet  sur  une  oreille  arabe.'  (Von  Ham- 
mer.) The  writer,  whom  we  quote,  cites  this,  indeed,  as  a  proof  of 
genius.     To  us  it  is  just  the  contrary ;  but  we  cannot  enlarge. 

The  other  has  reference  to  the  remarks  upon  the  Arabic  historians. 
There  are  no  doubt  some  exceptions  to  this  sweeping  censure  of  these, 
Abulfeda  and  Abulfaraj  are  among  the  most  respectable. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  again  lamenting  my  ill  luck  in  seizing 
upon^the  Arabian  Nights  as  a  victim,  at  the  same  time  with  another 
critic.  It  has  frightened  me  effectually  out  of  all  the  oriental  articles 
which  I  had  projected.  The  ground  is  pre-occupied  and  I  relinquish 
it.    Excuse  my  detaining  you  so  long  upon  so  slight  a  subject. 

Yours,  respectfully, 

J.  Addison  Alexander. 
Princeton,  K  J.,  Oct.  14,  1829." 

The  two  brothers  wrote  a  few  articles  for  the  National 
Gazette  under  the  same  signature,  that  of  "  Didymus."  *    It  is 

*  Dr.  Hall  referring  to  the  articles  of  "  Didymus  "  in  the  Gazette,  of  which 


^Et.20.]  article   ON   COFFEE.  211 

likely  enough  these  articles  were  remembered  by  the  editor  as 
those  of  their  father.  One  of  these  essays  is  before  me  now, 
and  is  entitled  "  Coffee."  *  It  appeared  in  the  number  of  the 
paper  which  was  issued  on  the  31st  of  October  1829,  and  is 
complimented,  together  with  another  of  the  series  styled 
'  Plautus,'  in  one  of  Mr.  Walsh's  pithy  editorial  paragraphs, 
in  the  words  following,  to  wit : 

"  We  thank  the  author  of  the  curious  conimumcation  on  Coffee, 
which  we  ourselves  honour  the  most  among  the  berries.  It  is  the 
1  slow  poison '  that  vivified  Voltaire's  wit  until  the  age  of  ninety,  and 
would  have  inspired  Lord  Byron  longer  and  better  than  his  favourite 
spirit  of  the  juniper.  We  can  never  pardon  those  who  degrade  tbe 
sovereign  grain  by  giving  its  name  to  a  powder  of  rye.  The  excellent 
essay  on  Plautus,  with  the  same  signature  as  that  of  the  article  on 
Coffee,  shall  appear  next  week." 

this  one  on  Coffee  was  one,  testifies  that  the  two  brothers  wrote  under  the 
same  signature.  The  article  on  Coffee,  however,  I  am  assured  by  auother 
gentleman  was  by  the  elder  brother.     The  former  says : 

"  Your  father  and  uncle  undertook  to  write  for  the  National  Gazette  of 
Philadelphia  (Mr.  Walsh's)  both  under  that  signature.  I  do  not  remember 
whether  it  went  further  than  this  on  '  Coffee,'  and  two  by  your  father ;  one  on 
'  Plautus ' — which,  with  some  other  of  hi3  (James's)  articles  in  the  Gazette,  &c, 
I  find  copies  of." 

*  The  Coffee  article  is  a  lively  recital  of  the  causes  leading  to  the  condemna- 
tion of  this  beverage  in  the  Koran,  and  winds  up  with  an  old  Sheikh's  expres- 
sion of  wonder  that  it  should  be  possible  '  to  extract  from  a  husk  such  an 
exquisite  drink  with  the  odour  of  musk  and  the  colour  of  ink." 


CHAPTER  VI. 

In  the  month  of  November  1829,  Prof.  Robert  Patton 
opened  a  high-school  in  Princeton,  and  Addison  Alexander, 
then  a  youth,  of  nineteen,  became  the  teacher  of  Latin,  Modern 
and  Ancient  History,  Ancient  Geography  and  Composition. 
As  no  man,  with  one  exception,  had  more  influence  than  Mr. 
Patton  in  moulding  his  intellectual  character,  a  notice  of  that 
gentleman  will  not  be  out  of  place  here. 

Robert  Bridges  Patton,  the  man  to  whom  Mr.  Alexander 
was  so  deeply  indebted  in  his  philological  studies,  was  the  son 
of  a  gentleman  who  had  been  at  one  time  the  post-master  of 
Philadelphia.  He  studied  law  with  Alexander  James  Dallas, 
and  afterwards  (in  1814)  entered  Middlebury  College.  He  was 
graduated  at  Yale  in  1817.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  was 
ajjpointed  tutor  at  Middlebury.  In  1818  he  sailed  for  Europe, 
and  spent  some  time  at  the  German  Universities,  and  on  his 
return  was  appointed  Professor  at  Middlebury.  In  1825  he 
received  the  appointment  of  Professor  of  Languages  in  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  a  position  he  held  till  1829,  when  he 
resigned  and  set  up  the  Eclgehill  School.  This  school  was 
most  successful,  and  he  abandoned  it  when  in  its  most  suc- 
cessful state.  After  leaving  Edgehill  he  became  an  enthusiast 
in  Natural  History  and  especially  Ornithology,  and  soon  after 
an  equally  great  enthusiast  in  Anatomy.  While  at  Edgehill 
he  put  forth  an  edition  of  Donnegan's  Greek  Lexicon,  in  the 
preparation  of  which  the  principal  burden  of  the  work  fell 
to  the  share  of  his  gifted  associate,  Addison  Alexander.  In 
1S33  Mr.  Patton  sailed  for  Europe,  and  returned  in  1834  in 
the  ship  with  Mr.  Alexander.  On  his  return  he  was  appointed 
Greek  professor  in  the  University  of  New  York.     He  was  un- 


Ms.  20.]  BECOMES   A   TEACHER.  213 

doubtedly  a  learned  man,  though  his  learning  was  confined 
mainly  to  the  ancient  and  modern  languages  and  natural 
history. 

In  regard  to  Mr.  Alexander's  connection  with  the  prepara- 
tion of  a  new  edition  of  Donnegan's  Greek  Lexicon,*  the  Rev. 
S.  B.  Jones,  D.  D.  of  Bridgeton,  N.  J.,  writes : 

"  How  well  he  had  established  his  reputation  as  a  Grecist  is  proved 
by  the  fact  that  so  distinguished  a  scholar  as  Professor  E.  B.  Patton, 
in  preparing  his  first  American  edition  of  Donnegan's  Greek  Lexicon, 
sought  the  assistance  of  this  precocious  young  man ;  of  whom  in  his 
Preface,  dated  June  13th,  1832,  he  thus  speaks  :  '  I  have  received  also 
much  valuable  assistance  from  my  esteemed  friend,  Prof.  J.  A.  Alex- 
ander of  Nassau  Hall ;  and  while  I  make  my  most  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments of  his  services,  cannot  but  regret  that  much  of  his  assiduous  and 
faithful  labour  was  in  a  measure  lost ;  inasmuch  as  the  second  English 
edition  had  anticipated  to  such  an  extent  the  additional  articles  pre- 
pared for  the  American  edition.'  " 

An  account  of  the  sort  of  work  it  was  which  is  here  briefly 
alluded  to  will  be  found  in  the  young  professor's  diary  for 
that  period.  German  scholarship  was  ransacked  by  the  as 
yet  unknown  critic  and  made  to  yield  many  valuable  additions 
to  the  improvements  suggested  by  the  American  labourer. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1829,  the  Rev.  Isaac  V.  Brown, 
the  principal  of  a  classical  school  at  LaAvrenceville,  N.  J.,  had 
invited  Mr.  Alexander  to  become  the  teacher  of  Greek  in  his 
academy.  This  invitation  he  accepted  conditionally,  but  never 
entered  upon  the  work.  It  nevertheless  stimulated  him  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  that  wonderful  knowledge  of  Greek,  which 
in  connection  with  his  Biblical  studies,  and  especially  the 
study  of  the  New  Testament,  was  the  glory  of  his  life. 

A  gentleman  who  often  walked  the  streets  of  Princeton  in 

those  days,f  tnus  writes,  in  a  letter  from  which  a  few  extracts 
are  taken : 

*  See  Donnegan's  Greek  and  English  Lexicon:  Boston,  Hilliurd,  Gray  & 
Co. ;  New  York,  G.  &  C.  Carvill  &  Co. 

f  The  Rev.  J.  B.  Adger,  D.D.,  now  a  professor  in  Columbia  Seminary,  S.  C, 
but  then  a  student  at  Princeton. 


214  THE   EAST.  [1829. 

"  I  had  no  personal  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Alexander  except  of  tho 
slightest  kind.  But  I  well  remember  the  reverence  I  had  for  him  as  a 
great  scholar  even  when  he  was  a  young  man,  and  I  was  a  boyish  stu- 
dent at  Princeton  Seminary  in  1829-33.  He  was  at  that  time  I  be- 
lieve not  even  a  professor  of  religion,  but  we  all  knew  that  he  was 
skilled  in  the  Oriental  tongues,  and  a  thorough  Biblical  critic.  How 
often  have  T  gazed  in  admiration  at  the  mysterious  recluse  who  once  in 
ii  couple  of  months  perhaps  crossed  my  track  as  at  long  intervals  ho 
took  his  unaccustomed  walk.  They  said  of  him  that  he  was  full  of  fun 
among  children,  but  neither  men  nor  boys,  so  far  as  I  know,  could 
approach  him.  And  I  believe  he  had  hardly  any  lady  acquaintances. 
He  Avas  deep  in  love  with  books,  and  his  communion  was  with  the 
mighty  dead  and  in  outlandish  tongues.  The  church  in  these  days  has 
had  few  such  lights  as  Addison  Alexander." 

But  fortunately  on  some  of  these  points  we  have  a  better 
witness  than  has  yet  been  brought  to  the  stand,  and  the  only 
one  who  could  speak  with  absolute  decision — I  mean  Mr. 
Alexander  himself.  I  here  insert  out  of  chronological  order 
a  letter  to  his  brother  James,  which  covers  in  a  general  way 
all  this  ground,  and  darts  a  strong  and  steady  light  into 
the  past  and  into  the  future.  It  certainly  makes  the  period 
of  which  I  am  now  treating,  brightly  luminous.  This  letter, 
to  change  the  figure,  is  indeed  the  master  key  to  the  writer's 
intellectual  history.  It  derives  a  peculiar  interest  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  written  on  the  completion  of  his  half-century, 
and  only  a  few  months  before  his  brother's  death.  From  it 
we  gather,  what  we  should  not  otherwise  have  known,  that 
he  really  thought  at  one  time  of  emulating  Lane  and  Burck- 
hardt,  and  becoming  a  denizen  of  the  East  ("  not  New-Eng- 
land but  D'ngtt,"  perhaps)  in  the  garb  of  a  turbaned  sheikh, 
and  that  he  was  originally  impelled  to  form  this  purpose  not 
from  any  fervour  of  piety,  but  simply  and  solely  to  study  the 
languages  and  become  acquainted  with  the  scenery  and  man- 
ners. The  joke  about  his  fear  lest  the  Moslems  should  be 
Christianized  before  he  got  there,  will  be  enjoyed  with  a 
relish  impossible  in  other  cases,  by  those  who  were  thor. 
o uglily  acquainted    with  the  writer,  and  can   remember  his 


Mr.  20.]  EARLY    DREAMS.'  215 

quick,  half-bashful  utterance  at  such  times,  and  the  quizzical 
gleam  of  his  eye.  He  informed  one  of  his  connections  subse- 
quently that  he  had  at  one  time  intended  going  to  one  of  these 
countries  as  a  missionary,  and  was  only  deterred  from  doing 
so  by  the  strenuous  exertions  of  one  of  his  most  valued  friends. 
This  must  have  been  at  a  somewhat  later  period,  for  he  says 
that  he  was  not  actuated  at  this  time  by  any  zeal  for  souls. 
Whether  his  usefulness  in  the  Church  would  or  would  not 
have  been  impaired  by  such  a  step,  it  is  impossible  for  man  to 
determine ;  he  himself  did  not  undertake  to  decide.  If  he 
had  gone  to  Constantinople,  or  India,  or  Persia,  it  is  hardly 
a  frivolous  thought  that  the  fame  of  such  Orientalists  as  Sir 
William  Jones  and  Eli  Smith  might  have  been  equalled — pos- 
sibly eclipsed  ;  or  if  he  had  ventured  to  penetrate,  like  Burck- 
harclt,  in  disguise  into  the  strong  fastnesses  of  Idumea,  or  like 
Carsten  Niebuhr  and  Palgrave  to  plunge  into  the  depths  of 
the  Arabian  Desert,  it  would  not  be  difficult  to  believe  that 
with  his  store  of  proverbs,  his  rich  acquaintance  with  the 
Koran,  his  knowledge  of  Eastern  history  and  geography,  his 
early  sympathy  with  the  Mussulman's  tastes  and  feelings,  his 
strong  imagination,  and  his  glowing  eloquence,  he  might  have 
shaken  the  souls  of  the  sons  of  Esau  or  thrilled  the  wild  heart 
of  the  Bedouin,  with  emotions  to  which  they  had  before  been 
strangers.  Who  knows  how  many  poor  Mohammedans  he 
might  not  have  succeeded  in  turning  from  the  crescent  to  the 
cross,  and  in  bringing  them  to  abetter  and  more  perfect  know- 
ledge of  him  whom  they  already  honour  under  the  title  of 
"  Issa  Ben  Mariam  "  ?  But  it  is  idle  to  speculate  about  such 
things.  The  past  is  irrevocable,  and  few  would  in  this  in- 
stance wish  it  recalled.  The  sorrow  of  the  romantic  youth 
when  he  turned  away  from  this  dream  (for  whether  to  be 
lamented  or  not,  it  was  nothing  but  a  dream),  was  as  short- 
lived as  that  of  his  namesake  when  his  advisers  restrained  him 
from  crossing  the  Ganges,  and  pushing  his  victories  into  the 
heart  of  India.  There  were  more  smiling  fields  to  be  entered 
and  other  memorable  trophies  to  be  won.  The  joy  of  new 
and  successful  achievements  in  a   very  different   quarter  of 


216  STUDY   OP   GREEK.  [1S29. 

the  hemisphere  soon  obliterated  every  trace  of  despondency 
from  his  mind,  if  any  such  remained,  with  regard  to  the  burst- 
ing of  this  bubble. 

It  should  seem,  however,  from  this  letter  that  notwith- 
standing his  lingering  admiration  for  the  literatures  of  the 
East,  our  student  at  the  time  to  which  it  mainly  refers  had 
already  given  himself,  heart  and  soul,  to  the  study  of  that 
noble  language  which  has  embalmed  forever  the  thoughts  of 
Homer,  and  Herodotus,  and  Xenophon.  This  was  owing  in 
part  to  the  influence  of  Professor  Patton  and  of  the  Edgehill 
school,  with  which  Mr.  Alexander  was  now  connected,  and 
perhaps  still  more  to  the  more  thorough  acquaintance  with 
Greek  which  he  obtained  in  prepai'ing  himself  to  be  a  teacher 
of  that  language  in  Mr.  I.  V.  Brown's  school,  a  position  how- 
ever which  he  never  filled ;  as  well  as  to  other  causes  which 
are  detailed  in  the  letter. 

The  Greek  grammar  and  lexicon  now  became  his  constant 
companions;  and  a  translation  of  parts  of  Passow  for  the  new 
edition  of  Donnegan,  greatly  improved  his  previous  acquaint- 
ance with  the  vocabulary  and  idiom.  This  change  of  tastes  was 
not  suspected  by  his  friends  generally,  and  yet,  when  he  was 
appointed  tutor  in  the  Seminary  (as  he  tells  us  himself)  he 
"  had  already  left  his  first  love  for  a  second,"  and  reproached 
himself  for  not  making  this  fact  known  to  the  Board.  Hence, 
as  he  thinks,  he  "  began  his  course  with  a  divided  heart,"  and 
though  he  liked  the  Hebrew,  he  greatly  preferred  the  Greek,  and 
in  private  devoted  to  it  a  large  part  of  his  time  and  strength. 
Few  will  agree  with  him  in  supposing  that  he  did  wrong  thus 
to  follow  the  strong  bent  of  his  genius  and  feelings,  or  that 
the  hours  taken  from  the  Oriental  languages  which  he  had 
already  mastered,  were  misapplied.  If  this  be  idleness,  or 
"  unfaithfulness  to  official  obligations,"  would  that  we  had 
more  of  it !  There  is  singular  modesty  and  an  inimitable 
nawet'e  in  these  surprising  confessions.  In  the  remarkable 
autobiographical  document  which  is  now  to  be  spread  before 
the  reader,  the  writer  lays  his  Avhole  heart  bare  to  the  inquisi- 
tive and  impartial  eye  of  his  sick  brother.     The  opening  words 


JSt.20.]  REMARKABLE    LETTER.  217 

speak  volumes  as  to  the  close  and  affectionate  intimacy  that 
subsisted  then,  as  always,  between  the  two,  and  the  very 
peculiar  and  beautiful  relation  in  which  they  stood  the  one 
towards  the  other — as  elder  and  younger — as  adviser  and  ad- 
vised. Here  is  a  man  at  whose  word,  when  that  word  was 
stern,  the  classes  trembled,  and  for  whose  emphatic  voice  his 
colleagues  eagerly  waited,  bending  with  gentleness  and  dig- 
nity to  the  judgment  of  a  meek  and  sorrowful  spirit  who  yet 
did  not  hesitate  to  give  candid  opinions  and  express  peremp- 
tory convictions.  They  were  pleasant  in  their  lives,  and  in 
their  death  they  were  not  far  divided.  There  is  much  more 
in  the  letter,  all  of  which  I  leave  to  speak  for  itself. 

May  5,  1859. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

"  Though  I  never  should  have  made  the  recent  move  without  your 
strong  concurrence  and  advice,  and  though  I  have  consulted  you  at 
every  step,  I  feel  that  I  have  not  yet  pat  you  in  complete  possession 
of  my  views  and  feelings,  and,  more  particularly,  of  my  reasons  for 
adhering  to  a  form  and  title  not  entirely  in  accordance  with  your  bet- 
ter taste  and  judgment.  This  I  cannot  do  without  being  a  little  auto- 
biographical ;  to  which  I  am  the  less  averse  because  this  is  a  critical 
juncture  in  my  history,  not  only  on  account  of  the  proposed  change  in 
my  position,  but  because  I  have  just  finished  my  half  century.  I  need 
not  remind  you  of  my  early  and  almost  unnatural  proclivity  to  Orient  d 
studies;  but  it  may  be  news,  even  to  you,  that,  under  the  potent  spell 
of  Scheherazade  and  Sir  William  Jones,  it  was  my  cherished  wish  for 
several  years  to  settle  in  the  East, — not  New  England  but  tnpn — and 
so  far  from  having  any  missionary  zeal,  that  I  was  really  afraid  the 
Moslems  would  be  Christianized  before  I  could  get  at  them.  This  boyish 
dream  was  early  broken  and  succeeded  by  a  no  less  passionate  desire 
to  be  a  lawyer ;  but  ray  Oriental  studies  were  continued  after  ray  col- 
lege course,  at  which  time  I  read  the  whole  of  the  Koran  in  Arabic  and 
the  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew.  It  is  nevertheless  true  that  I  had 
begun  already  to  be  weaned  from  Anatolic  to  Hellenic  studies.  The 
exciting  cause  of  this  change  was  the  influence  of  Patton — first  as 
a  teacher,  chiefly  by  his  making  me  acquainted  with  the  German 
form  of  classical  philology  ;  then  by  means  of  his  Society  [the  Philo- 
logical Society]  and  library ;  and  lastly,  by  association  with  him  at 
Edgehill.  This  influence,  however,  would  have  had  no  permanent 
10 


218  GREEK    GRAMMAR. 

effect,  if  I  had  not  been  led  to  lay  the  foundation  of  my  Greek  more 
firmly  than  it  had  been  laid  by  S  ilmnn  Strong,  Horace  Pratt,  or  Robert 
Baird.  "Whatever  accurate  Greek  scbolarsbip  I  have  is  three  years 
subsequent  in  date  to  my  graduation,  and  owes  its  origin  to  my 
having  undertaken  to  teach  the  language  in  Brown's  school,  for 
which  I  endeavoured  to  prepare  myself  by  thoroughly  mastering 
Moore's  admirable  grammar,  wbich  contains  the  germ  of  all  the  late 
improvements.  This  I  almost  learned  by  heart  in  Latin,  going  over  it 
a  thousand  times  as  I  walked  up  and  down  in  the  old  garden,  where  I 
am  often  now  reminded  of  that  toilsome  but  delightful  process.  Hav- 
ing got  the  grammar  fairly  in  possession,  I  read  every  word  of  the 
Anabasis  and  Cyropsedia  for  the  purpose  of  grammatical  analysis,  and, 
having  done  this,  for  the  first  time  felt  that  I  was  a  Greek  scholar,  even 
of  the  humblest  rank.  All  this  labour  seemed  then  to  be  thrown  away ; 
as  I  did  not  go  to  Brown's  but  to  Patton's,  and  not  as  Greek  but  Latin 
teacher!  This  was  more  than  made  good,  however,  by  my  lexicngra- 
phical  labours,  in  translating  parts  of  Passow,  for  the  new  edition  of 
Donnegan  ;  and  although  in  this  case  too,  my  hard  Wbrk  answered  no 
immediate  purpose,  its  value  was  inestimable  to  my  own  improvement, 
as  I  found  wben  I  began  the  next  year  to  teach  Greek  at  College. 
One  effect  of  all  this,  never  known  to  others,  was,  that  when  I  was  ap- 
pointed tutor  jn  the  Seminary,  I  had  already  left  my  first  love  for  a 
second ;  so  that  when  I  beard  of  John  Breckinridge's  saying,  in  the 
Board,  as  an  apology  for  moving  me,  that  I  was  not  a  classical,  but  an 
Oriental  scholar,  my  conscience  smote  me  as  a  literary  hypocrite,  for  let- 
ting the  mistake  continue.  Thus  I  began  my  course  with  a  divided 
heart,  and  though  I  never  disliked  teaching  Hebrew,  but  preferred  it 
much  to  all  my  other  Seminary  duties,  I  still  spent  much  time  upon 
Greek  in  private;  not  without  a  secret  feeling  of  unfaithfulness  to  my  of- 
ficial obligations.  It  was  this,  together  with  my  strong  distaste  for  pro- 
phetical studies,  and  the  crushing  load  of  authorship  which  Dr.  Hodge 
had  laid  upon  me  from  the  first,  that  made  me  catch  with  a  sort  of  ea- 
ger desperation  at  the  first  suggestion  of  a  change  in  my  professorship 
(in  1845)  as  promising  to  free  me  from  a  very  heavy  burden,  not  so 
much  of  labour,  as  of  responsibility,  and  to  bring  me  somewhat  nearer 
to  the  studies  which  I  really  preferred.  A  great  stride  was  taken  in 
the  same  direction  when  I  was  unexpectedly,  and  as  I  now  see  provi- 
dentially, compelled  to  study  and  expound  the  historical  books  of  the 
New  Testament;  the  most  delightful  labour  of  my  life,  and  the  direct 
source  of  my  latest  and  best  publications.  I  still  felt,  however,  that 
my  studies  were  not  classical;  and  cherished  my  old,  childish  prejudice 


^Bt.20.1  HELLENISTIC    STUDIES.  219 

against  the  Biblical  Greek,  as  something  illiterate  and  ungrammatical, 
a  mere  corruption  and  abuse  of  the  first  language  in  the  world.  My 
earliest  glimpse  of  the  modern  German  doctrine  on  this  subject  was  af- 
forded by  Schaff's  admirable  chapter  in  his  history,  containing  little  of 
his  own  except  the  clear  and  captivating  mode  of  presentation,  but  col- 
lecting the  best  thoughts  of  the  best  writers,  in  relation  to  the  claims  of 
the  Hellenistic  dialect,  as  a  co-ordinate  branch  of  the  Hellenic  tree,  with 
a  distinctive  independent  character,  and  no  small  merits  of  its  own. 
From  that  time  (about  ten  years  since)  these  have  been  my  favourite 
studies;  none  the  less  because  connected  upon  one  side  with  the  vast 
domain  of  classical  philology,  and  on  the  other,  with  the  sacred  field 
of  Biblical  learning.  My  interest  in  the  language  soon  extended  to  the 
literature  of  the  Hellenistic  Jews,  inspired  and  uninspired,  as  a  distinct 
and  well-defined  department  of  ancient  learning.  It  is  this  that  I  have 
always  had  before  my  mind,  as  my  proposed  field  of  study  and  instruc- 
tion in  my  many  schemes  and  efforts  to  attain  my  true  position.  It  U 
not  merely  the  New  Testament  literature,  strictly  so  called,  that  I  wish 
to  cultivate — though  that  does  lie  at  the  foundation,  and  gives  character 
to  all  the  rest ;  but  I  covet  the  privilege  of  making  excursions,  without 
any  violation  of  officiid  duty,  into  the  adjacent  fields  of  Hellenistic 
learning,  having  still  in  view  as  my  supreme  end,  the  defence  and  il 
lustration  of  the  Bible,  but  at  the  same  time  opening  a  new  field  for 
literary  culture  iu  this  country,  and  thus  gaining  for  myself  a  more 
original  position  than  that  of  simply  sharing  Green's  professorship. 
I  wish  it  to  be  fully  understood,  if  the  proposed  change  should  be 
carried  out,  that  while  the  New  Testament  department  will  have 
greater  justice  done  it  than  was  possible  at  any  former  period,  it  will 
have  something  new  connected  with  it;  which  can  only  be  suggested  by 
a  new  name,  the  novelty  of  which  is  therefore  an  advantage,  if  it  be 
not  otherwise  objectionable,  which  I  cannot  see  to  be  the  case.  The 
more  I  reflect  upon  it,  therefore,  the  more  clearly  I  perceive  that  no 
description  could  more  perfectly  express  what  I  have  carried  out  for 
myself,  than  that  of  '  Hellenistic  and  New  Testament  Literature." 

Affectionately  yours, 

J.  A.  A. 

It  was  while  at  Mr.  Pattern's  school  that  Mr.  Alexander's 
mind  first  became  deeply  impressed  with  religious  things,  and 
that  he  was  led,  as  he  and  others  believed,  to  put  his  trust  in 
a  crucified  Saviour.  Indeed  the  change  in  his  feelings  and 
purposes  was,  in  his  own  judgment  and  in  the  judgment  of  his 


220  PURITY    OF   LIFE.  [1S29. 

father,  directly   owing  to  his  first  removal  from  his  father's 
house,  to  which  he  was  attached  with  a  passionate  devotion. 

Of  his  exercises  previous  to  conversion  there  are  no 
trustworthy  memorials.  It  was  hardly  to  be  expected  that 
one  whose  advantages  had  been  so  extraordinary,  should 
not  have  embraced  the  truth  intellectually  at  a  very  early 
period,  and  this  presumption  is  rendered  almost  a  certainty 
by  his  own  subsequent  allusions,  as  well  as  by  a  multi- 
tude of  collateral  proofs,  of  slender  weight  if  estimated  sepa- 
rately, but  of  convincing  force  when  put  together  and  ex- 
amined in  combination.  He  was  remarkable  when  young  for 
his  punctilious  morality  and  outward  respect  for  the  great 
subjects  of  the  gospel.  It  will  be  remembered  that  all  the 
friends  of  his  boyhood  testify  to  his  singularly  exemplary 
character,  and  pronounce  him  one  of  the  purest  and  most  re- 
putable youths  with  whom  they  were  ever  acquainted.  But 
it  will  be  seen  from  the  diary  to  which  the  reader  is  now  to 
be  introduced,  that  Mr.  Alexander  himself  confessed  and  be- 
wailed his  utter  sinfulness,  and  saw  no  hope  of  salvation  but 
in  the  merits  and  shed  blood  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  work  of 
restoration  was  gradual,  and  unaccompanied  by  strong  terrors 
or  remorse.  These  solemn  records  possess  a  strange  and 
mournful  interest  from  the  fact  already  mentioned  that  with 
one  or  two  exceptions  they  are  the  only  extant  registers  of  his 
religious  feelings. 

The  only  glimpse,  aside  from  matters  of  reasonable  con- 
jecture, which  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  of  the  precise  state 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  feelings  on  this  subject  befoi'e  he  became 
an  avowed  believer  in  Jesus,  is  afforded  in  the  obituary 
sketch  by  Dr.  Baird.  The  picture  of  Addison's  reticent  and 
cautious  father  melted  to  tears  over  the  evidences  of  his  son's 
conversion  is  affecting,  and  the  fact  recorded  of  him  is  re- 
markable and  stands  alone  in  Dr.  Archibald  xVlexander's 
history. 

""While  he  was  a  student  of  the  Academy,  Addison  was  a  punctual 
and  serious  attendant  upon  the  religious  services  of  the  Institution. 


Mr.  20. j  CONVERSION.  221 

Seldom,  if  ever,  was  he  absent  from  the  daily  opening  and  closing 
prayer,  and  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures.  He  was  always  present  at 
the  Bible  class  on  Sabbatli  afternoon,  and  the  season  of  special  prayer 
on  Thursday  afternoon,  at  the  close  of  the  usual  exercises  of  that  day. 
But  whilst  there  was  much  attention,  respect,  and  even  seriousness, 
there  was  no  special  manifestation  of  deep  interest  in  religion  as  a  per- 
sonal matter.  It  was  not  until  he  had  finished  his  studies  in  the  Col- 
lege, and  had  become  an  assistant  teacher  in  Professor  Pattou's  Edge- 
hill  School  in  Princeton,  that  his  heart  became  savingly  engaged  in  the 
subject  of  religion.  I  shall  never  forget  an  interview  which  I  had  with 
his  father  about  that  time.  Dr.  Alexander  was  a  man  of  strong  feel- 
ings ;  but  he  also  had  great  control  over  his  emotions,  and  I  never  knew 
him  to  give  wTay  to  them  excepting  on  that  occasion.  After  speaking 
of  the  business  respecting  which  I  had  called  to  see  him,  he  remarked 
that  as  I  had  taken  a  great  interest  in  his  sons,  he  had  a  piece  of  intel- 
ligence to  communicate  which  he  was  sure  would  give  me  much  de- 
light. He  then  stated  that  he  was  well  satisfied,  from  a  conversation 
which  he  had  had  with  Addison  the  evening  previous,  that  he  was  a 
converted  man !  This  he  said  in  a  tone  of  voice  which  manifested  the 
deepest  feeling.  Indeed,  for  some  moments  afterwards  he  could  not 
speak,  but  covered  his  face  with  his  handkerchief,  and  gave  way  to  his 
deep  emotions  of  joy  and  hope.  He  had  a  high  opinion  of  the  talents 
of  Addison  and  James,  but  he  did  not  think  that  either  of  them  was 
naturally  the  most  gifted  of  his  sons.  On  this  point  I  think  he  was 
right,  distinguished  as  both  unquestionably  were  for  their  great  men- 
tal endowments."* 

But  let  its  recur  to  his  journal.  These  revelations  of  fierce 
and  remarkable  spiritual  conflicts  will  not  greatly  surprise 
the  admirers  of  his  experimental  sermons.  They  are  however 
of  a  nature  so  unusual  that  I  shall  give  them  to  the  reader 
with  but  little  abridgment. 

"  Jan.  1830.  During  the  month  of  January,  besides  attending  to 
my  duties  in  the  school,  I  have  been  employed  in  assisting  Mr.  Patton 

*  This  statement  needs  great  qualification.  The  father  considered  Addison 
as  on  the  whole  inferior  in  point  of  ability  and  character  to  no  member  of  his 
family,  and  in  many  respects  in  advance  of  every  one  within  the  range  of  his 
acquaintance.  Witness  his  own  words  in  the  letter  to  Mrs.  Graham  which  will 
be  found  on  page. 


222  DIARY    OF    EXPERIENCE.  [1830. 

to  collect  materials  for  his  Greek  lexicon.  My  part  of  the  work  con- 
sists in  translating  from  Passow's  Greek  and  German  dictionary  the 
definitions  of  words  omitted  by  Donnegan.  I  have  also  completed  the 
rough  draught  of  a  review  of  Sadi's  Gulistan  for  the  American  Quar- 
terly Review,  which  I  began  in  December.  I  have  contributed  some 
trifles  to  the  Philadelphia  Morning  Journal.  But  in  addition  to  these 
literary  pursuits,  I  have  been  deeply  engaged  in  a  study  new  to  me, 
and  far  more  important  than  all  others — the  study  of  the  Bible  and  my 
own  heart.  I  humbly  trust  that  I  am  not  what  I  was.  I  have  still 
my  old  propensities  to  evil,  but  I  have  also  a  new  will  co-existing  with 
the  old,  and  counteracting  and  controlling  it.*  My  views  respecting 
study  are  now  changed.  Intellectual  enjoyment  has  been  my  idol  here- 
tofore ;  now  my  heart's  desire  is  that  I  may  live  no  longer  to  myself, 
but  in  Him  in  whom  I  have  everlasting  life.  God  grant  that  the  acqui- 
sitions that  I  have  been  allowed  to  make  under  the  influence  of  selfish 
motives  may  be  turned  to  good  account  as  instruments  for  the  promo- 
tion of  His  glory.  May  it  not  be  that  my  strong  and  unaccountable  at- 
tachment from  a  very  early  age  to  unusual  studies,  &c,  was  intended 
as  a  preparation  for  God's  service  in  some  foreign  land  ?  Oh !  if  I  were 
thought  worthy  of  bearing  such  a  message — but  I  desire  to  abstain 
from  all  attempts  to  order  my  own  steps.  I  have  indulged  my  imagi- 
nation formerly  too  much.  It  must  be  mortified.  My  God,  for  such 
I,  even  I,  may  call  thee  in  the  name  of  Christ — my  God,  into  thy  hands 
I  commit  myself!  In  life  or  death,  at  home  or  abroad,  in  peace  and  joy 
or  in  the  dark  valley,  I  design  to  be  thine — thine  with  a  devotedness 
proportioned  to  ray  meanness,  misery,  ingratitude,  infirmity  and  utter 
unworthiness  of  favour.  Oh !  deliver  me  from  my  worst  enemy — my- 
self." 

"  Feb.  4.  For  some  days  I  have  been  suffering  the  pains  of  melan- 
choly— an  evil  from  which  I  have  been  heretofore  exempt.  It  has  no 
reference  to  my  religious  views,  which  continue  substantially  un- 
changed ;  but  seems  rather  hypochondriacal  in  its  character,  engender- 
ing dark  apprehensions  of  disease  and  death.  Its  worst  effect  is  that  it 
begins  to  establish  an  association  in  my  mind  (I  cannot  conceive  how), 
between  religious  duties  and  these  gloomy  fears.  I  am  sometimes 
tempted  to  believe  that  it  is  a  device  of  the  adversary  intended  to  throw 
a  shade  over  the  subject  of  religion,  and  alienate  my  thoughts  from  it. 


*  This  may  indicate  his  opinion  as  to  the  true  meaning  of  Gal.  vi:  IT. 


^It.20.1  COMFORT    IN   THE    BIBLE.  223 

I  was  somewhat  relieved  by  conversing  with  my  father  last  night,*  hut. 
find  myself  still  under  the  dominion  of  evil  spirits,  especially  as  night 
comes  on.  After  all,  the  best  explanation  of  it  is  that  it  arises  from 
my  languor  and  neglect  in  the  discharge  of  duty  and  the  cultivation  of 
a  spiritual  temper.  It  is  probably  no  more  than  a  black  vapour  from  the 
stagnant  pool  of  my  own  corruptions,  eclipsing  the  little  light  which 
had  begun  to  shine  upon  my  soul.  O,  Sim  of  Righteousness,  arise  with 
healing  under  thy  wings.  When  I  look  back  upon  the  doings  of  a  day 
and  count  over  my  remembered  transgressions  and  deficiencies  (to  say 
nothing  of  the  numberless  offences  which  my  blunted  conscience  takes 
no  notice  of)  I  feel  that  I  have  no  right  to  wonder  or  complain  when 
I  find  myself  at  night  wrapped  in  spiritual  darkness. 

"  I  am  reading  the  epistles  of  Peter,  slowly  but  with  great  satisfac- 
tion. The  nature  of  my  occupations  obliges  me  to  read  the  Bible  at 
intervals  and  in  very  small  portions  at  a  time.  This,  which  at  first 
troubled  me,  I  find  to  be  an  eminent  advantage.  Instead  of  running 
over  a  whole  chapter  with  divided  attention,  and  without  being  able  to 
retain  any  portion  of  it  accurately  in  the  memory,  I  can  dwell  upon 
one  text  for  half  an  hour  or  more,  and  in  this  way  see  not  only  more 
meaning  and  derive  more'  instruction  from  it,  but  give  a  wholesome 
seasoning  to  my  secular  pursuits.  Eappily  my  business  is  not  of  such 
a  nature  as  to  exclude  all  thoughts  of  other  things.  While  hearing  a 
boy  parse  a  sentence  in  Latin,  or  copying  the  definition  of  a  Greek 
word,  I  have  abundant  opportunity  to  turn  the  word  of  life  in  my  mind 
and  apply  it  to  my  conscience.  What  shall  I  render  to  the  Lord  for 
placing  me  in  circumstances  so  propitious  to  my  spiritual  welfare!  I 
look  back  with  shame  to  my  discontented  feelings  on  first  coming  to 
this  place,  and  bless  God  that  my  wish  to  be  released  from  my  engage- 
ment was  not  gratified.  I  am  satisfied  that  my  removal  from  my 
father's  house,  by  breaking  the  associations  which  had  been  growing 
stronger  and  stronger  for  twenty  years,  and  turning  the  current  of  my 
thoughts  into  new  channels,  was  highly  instrumental  in  directing  my 
attention  to  the  subject  of  religion.  I  expressed  this  idea  to  my  father, 
who  concurred  in  it,  and  observed  that  the  removal  of  a  young  man, 
from  his  father's  house,  is  always  a  critical  event,  producing  powerful 
effects,  good  or  bad,  according  to  the  situation  into  which  he  passes." 

"Now,  thanks  be  to  God,  a  better  situation,  quoad  hoc,  could  not 

*  May  not  this  have  been  the  very  interview  referred  to  by  Dr.  Baird  ?  and 
may  not  the  father  have  counselled  the  son  on  the  subject  of  Satanic  tempta- 
tions? 


224  LIGHT   IN   DAKKNESS.  [1830. 

have  been  selected  than  the  one  in  which  I  find  myself.  The  heads 
of  the  family  are  both  exemplary  Christians ;  religion  is  treated  by  all 
the  household  with  respect,  and  I  am  wholly  delivered  from  the  com- 
pany of  any  whose  contempt  or  opposition  might  retard  my  progress. 
Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all  his  benefits. 

"I  have  been  reading  Augustin's  Confessions  as  abridged  inMilner's 
Church  History.  "What  a  wonderful  conversion!  Like  most  other 
practical  works  which  I  have  read,  it  contains  something  parallel  to 
my  case.  The  difficulty  which  the  historian  appears  to  look  upon  ns 
something  very  singular  (viz.,  of  forming  a  conception  of  the  Deity 
as  a  spiritual  substance)  gave  me  no  small  trouble  sometime  since, 
and  is  not  yet  conquered.  Most  of  his  conflicts  too  I  have  felt,  though 
not  in  the  same  circumstances.  The  statement  which  he  makes  in  the 
last  book,  of  his  temptations  through  the  different  senses,  I  might 
almost  transcribe  and  make  my  own.  Does  not  this  coincidence  in  the 
experience  and  language  of  men  separated  by  such  intervals  of  space 
and  time,  prove  the  truth  of  their  religious  sentiments  ? 

"  I  finished  yesterday  Ellerby's  abridgment  of  Edwards  on  the 
Affections.  I  am  happy  that  I  read  it.  It  put  me  on  my  guard  against 
some  delusions  into  which  I  should  have  been  very  apt  to  fall.  I  am 
reading  slowly  Owen  on  Spiritual  Mindedness.  Large  portions  of  it 
cannot  be  digested  well  at  once ;  but  it  is  evidently  well  worth  the 
perusal. 

"  10  o'clock,  p.  m.  Thank  God  !  I  feel  myself  much  relieved  from 
the  irrational  and  sinful  melancholy  which  has  been  oppressing  me.  I 
have  been  enabled,  in  some  measure,  to  obey  the  precept  in  1  Peter 
5.7  (Ps.  55.22).  O  my  God,  KarapTirrai  arrjpi^ai  crdevaxras,  OepcXiaxrai ! 
I  am  weak  but  thou  art  strength  itself.  I  do,  Lord  !  humbly  cast  my 
burden  upon  thee,  knowing  that  thou  wilt  sustain  me,  for  I  dare  not 
disbelieve  thee. 

"  I  have  no  longer  any  right  to  wonder  at  the  darkness  and  discom- 
fort which  have  lately  troubled  me,  when  I  find  myself  so  prone  to 
yield  to  every  temptation,  however  feeble. — 0  my  Father  who  art  in 
Heaven,  when  shall  I  feel  humbly  grateful  for  the  privilege  of  calling 
thee  my  father?  Oh,  how  canst  thou  who  art  holiness  itself  endure 
the  approaches  of  an  impure  worm  ?  Save  me  from  the  presumptuous 
folly  of  ascribing  it  to  my  own  merits,  and  give  me  a  deeper  and  deeper 
conviction  of  the  truth  that  it  is  only  through  the  intercession  of  a 
great  High  Priest  that  I  am  not  spurned  from  thy  footstool ; — Hal- 
lowed be  thy  name ;— strike  me,  in  mercy  strike  me  to  the  earth  under 
a  deep  sense  of  thy  holiness  and  majesty ;  Oh  !  save  me  from  the  bias- 


JBt.  20.]  CONFESSIONS.  225 

phemous  impiety  of  trifling  with  thy  name. — How  often,  O  Lord,  I 
have  taken  it  in  vain !  How  needless  do  I  utter  it  even  at  this  mo- 
ment! Keep  me,  0  Lord,  for  I  have  not  even  holiness  enough  to  look 
npon  thee  with  reverence  !  Oli !  blast  this  pride  and  insensibility,  not 
with  the  lightnings  of  thy  wrath,  but  with  the  breathings  of  thy  Holy 
Spirit.  Let  me  no  longer  come  into  thy  presence  reeking  with  the 
vanities  of  life,  or  wallowing  in  my  own  native  filthincss,  and.  in  such 
a  state  presume  to  take  thy  name,  even  thine  O  God,  upon  my  polluted 
lips!  But  enable  me  to  say  with  my  heart  as  well  as  with  my  lips, 
hallowed  be  thy  name  ! — Thy  kingdom  come  !  Oh  enable  me  to  re- 
joice with  joy  unspeakable  at  the  very  thought  that  thy  throne  is  for- 
ever and  ever:  knowing  and  believing  that  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom 
is  a  right  sceptre,  and  that  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  thou  art 
God  !  Oh,  when  shall  thy  kingdom  come  among  the  nations?  When 
shall  our  God  and  Saviour  have  the  heathen  for  his  inheritance  ?  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly  !  Oh,  that  my  eyes  might  see  the  salvation 
of  the  world !  And,  0  Lord,  when  thou  comest  in  thy  kingdom,  re- 
member me — remember  me ! 

"Feb.  5.  I  have  read  to-day  with,  great  pleasure  and  benefit  the 
fourth  chapter  and  part  of  the  fifth  in  Owen  on  Spiritual  Mindedness. 
The  perusal  of  it  was  permitted  to  be  instrumental  in  dispelling  some- 
what the  black  cloud  of  selfish  melancholy  which  has  hung  upon  me 
for  some  days.  Alas,  alas,  I  yielded  this  evening  to  a  temptation  which 
I  vainly  imagined  I  had  gained  power  to  resist.  Who  shall  deliver  me 
from  the  body  of  this  death  !  A  short  time  since  such  surprises,  by 
making  me  despair  of  my  own  strength  checked  my  progress  toward  a 
life  of  obedience.  But  now  I  thank  God  I  have  learned  two  lessons 
that  before  were  foolishness  to  me;  one  is,  that  my  own  strength  is 
perfect  weakness ;  the  other  that  I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ 
that  strengtheneth  me.  I  arise  from  this  fall  with  new  convictions  of 
my  own  inability  to  think  a  right  thought,  and,  I  trust,  with  renewed 
dependence  upon  God. 

"  Feb.  7.  Bead  an  abridgment  of  the  life  of  Henry  Martyn.  I  have 
so  often  read  this  biography  for  its  almost  romantic  interest,  that  I  ex- 
pected to  derive  no  entertainment  from  it.  But  in  this  perusal  my 
attention  was  abstracted  to  the  account  of  his  conversion  ;  and  I  was 
surprised  at  its  remarkable  resemblance  to  my  own.  It  was  equally 
gradual,  without  strong  terrors  or  remorse,  and  seems  to  have  resulted 
as  immediately  from  study  of  the  Scriptures.  The  fragments  also  of 
his  subsequent  experience,  contained  in  extracts  from  his  journal  might 
be  transcribed  here  as  narratives  of  mine ;  I  mean  his  unfavourable 
10* 


226  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  [1830. 

pictures.  Would  to  God  I  had  his — and  far  more  than  his — love,  faith, 
devotion,  patience,  deadness  to  the  world,  meekness  and  charity  toward 
all  men  !  But  as  Martyn  himself  says,  '  The  gospel  was  contrived  to 
meet  the  case  of  sinners,  and  no  sins  can  get  beyond  its  redeeming  and 
purifyiDg  power.'  Oh  for  light ;  God  is  light ;  Oh  for  more  love — God 
is  love ;  and  he  that  dwelloth  in  love  dwelleth  in  God  and  God  in 
him.     Oh  let  me  dwell  in  thee  eternally !  " 

"  Feb.  8.  Though  I  awoke  at  an  early  hour  sloth  and  the  severe 
cold  made  me  break  my  resolution  as  to  early  rising  and  devotion. 
Would  to  God  my  senses  had  less  influence  upon  my  spirit!  Notwith- 
standing this  delinquency,  my  mind  was  graciously  brought  into  a  more 
comfortable  and,  I  hope,  more  spiritual  state  than  it  has  been  for  some 
time,  if  at  all.  The  evils  which  I  have  most  reason  to  complain  of  are 
distrust  in  God's  goodness*  and  a  proneness  to  unbelief.  A  delightful 
letter  from  the  dearest  friend  (as  to  community  of  feelings,  sentiments 
&c.)  that  I  have  on  earth,  stirred  up  my  feelings  not  a  little.  Sis  weeks 
ago  I  should  have  been  annoyed  by  such  a  letter ;  as  it  is,  I  desire  to 
bless  God  that  I  have  such  a  brother.  I  have  lately  been  oppressed 
with  a  feeling  of  solitariness  arising  from  my  situation  ;  for  I  have  in- 
timate communion  with  no  one  in  the  same  house,  and  my  occupations 
are  exceedingly  confining.  In  my  anxiety  about  my  own  state,  too,  I 
have  forgotten  others.  I  have  unconsciously  regarded  myself  as  the 
only  one  on  earth  who  stood  in  just  such  a  relation  to  God.  In  some 
respects  this  has  been  beneficial.  It  has  enabled  me  to  make  up  my 
mind,  and  lay  my  plans,  independently  of  mere  human  considerations, 
and  to  regard  personal  religion  as  an  affair  between  God  and  my  own 
heart.  The  views  which  I  have  entertained  and  the  resolutions  I  have 
taken,  have  rested  on  the  supposition  that  I  stood  alone;  I  hope,  there- 
fore, that  they  will  be  less  likely  to  be  moved  by  any  change  in  external 
circumstances.  But  now  that  I  hegin  to  feel  some  confidence  that  I  am 
in  the  right  way,  I  find  it  to  be  a  privilege  as  well  as  duty,  to  look  at 
others.  Archbishop  Leighton's  observations  on  the  first  sentence  of 
the  Lord's  prayer,  brought  the  duty  to  my  mind  with  new  liveliness 
and  force  ;  and  this  letter  makes  me  feel  the  value  of  the  privilege  of 
Christian  communion  more  forcibly. 

"  2  p.  M.  I  have  constantly  new  warnings  against  putting  con- 
fidence in  the  stability  of  my  own  resolutions,  and  the  permanence  of 
my  feelings.     This  morning  I  felt  confident,  resigned  and  spiritual.     At 

*  The  letter  of  his  eldest  brother,  which  is  here  referred  to,  is  not  now  in 
existence. 


J2t.20.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  227 

this  moment,  I  am  not  only  cold  in  my  affections,  and  indistinct  in  my 
views  of  truth,  but  plagued  by  a  return  of  my  old  feelings  of  false 
shame,  attachment  to  mere  worldly  objects,  &c.  I  thank  God,  how- 
ever, I  am  still  enabled  to  feel  that  it  all  arises  from  the  want  of  faith 
and  watchfulness,  and  to  believe  that  it  is  possible  to  obtain  other 
states  of  mind,  by  unwearied  diligence  combined  with  humble  reliance 
upon  Divine  assistance.  This  remedy  I  am  determined  to  apply;  fight- 
ing my  way  through  all  difficulties,  and  waging  war  especially  against 
myself,  as  my  most  treacherous  enemy.  Oh  my  God !  though  thou 
canst  not  but  abhor  the  unbelief  and  corruption  which  produces  these 
vicissitudes,  yet  thou  knowest  that  my  heart's  desire  before  thee  is  to 
love  thee  with  a  fervour,  and  serve  thee  with  a  zeal,  above  and  beyond 
all  that  I  have  yet  imagined  or  designed.  Oh,  aid  me  in  the  struggle 
with  my  own  heart  and  with  sin ! 

"  11  p.  m.  I  am  hourly  made  to  feel  my  weakness.  I  vainly 
imagined  that  my  religious  feelings  were  not  likely  to  be  influenced  by 
outward  circumstances ;  but  on  going  home  to-night  and  finding  my 
father  low-spirited  and  my  mother  unwell,  though  both  spiritually 
well  and  rejoicing  in  my  change,  I  felt  my  spirits  sink  within  me  as  if 
my  prospects  of  eternal  life  depended  upon  them.  When  shall  I  be 
delivered  from  this  bondage  to  mere  natural  affections,  and  mere 
worldly  objects  ?  Lord,  this  struggle  is  too  hard  for  my  unassisted 
strength.  Oh,  fan  my  dying  faith  into  a  flame  with  the  breathings  of 
thy  Spirit !  Oh,  sustain  me  with  the  arms  of  thy  everlasting  love ; 
I  feel  my  own  shortcomings.  In  this  single  day  how  little  have  my 
thoughts  been  with  God;  how  little  have  I  thought  of  His  omnipres- 
ence ;  how  little  have  I  tried  to  wean  my  affections  from  the  world 
and  fix  them  upon  Christ;  how  little  have  I  been  actuated  in  my  con- 
duct by  a  regard  to  duty  and  a  sincere  desire  to  do  the  will  of  God. 
Lord,  thou  hast  searched  me  and  known  me ;  thou  knowest  my  down- 
sittings  and  my  uprising;  strengthen  my  weakness;  animate,  excite, 
invigorate  me !  In  humble  confidence  that  thou  wilt  not  reject  this 
prayer,  I  desire  to  resolve  in  thy  presence  that  I  will  endeavour,  if 
permitted  to  behold  another  day,  to  spend  it  in  a  way  more  agreeable 
to  thee  and  beneficial  to  myself.  What  a  mercy  is  it  that  our  duty  and 
our  interests  are  so  united.  God  might  justly  have  required  us  to  sub- 
mit to  torments  in  his  service,  but  no — the  very  duties  which  we  ren- 
der, if  performed  aright,  are  sources  of  delight.'' 

"  Feb.  9.  Cold,  languid,  earthly — O  Lord,  how  long  ?  But  is  it  not 
one  of  my  habitual  sins  to  expect  God's  aid  without  the  use  of  means ; 


228  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  [1630. 

and  then  to  complain  of  my  deficiencies,  as  if  they  did  not  spring  from 
my  own  sinfulness  ? 

"  10. — 11.  A  little  comforted,  strengthened  and  enlightened  by  the 
latter  part  of  Romans  xiv  ;  but  still  tormented  by  a  dread  of  ridicule, 
disgrace,  &c.  My  imagination  works  too  much  ;  one  of  Owen's  rules 
struck  me  forcibly ;  to  take  from  our  most  valuable  time  for  God's 
service,  not  palm  the  scraps  and  refuse  on  Him. 

"  The  fifth  of  Romans  is  a  glorious  chapter — even  my  blindness 
could  perceive  its  brightness !  O  my  God  apply  thy  Word  to  me  the  chief 
of  sinners.  I  have  obtained  the  first  volume  of  John  Newton's  works 
and  hope  to  derive  much  advantage  from  it.  He  always  speaks  from 
his  heart  and  from  his  own  experience. 

"Who  hath  bewitched  me?  Though  rationally  satisfied  that  this 
world  contains  nothing  commensurate  with  my  capacity  and  desires, 
and  that  if  I  will,  I  may  obtain  a  crown  of  everlasting  life,  I  am  har- 
assed by  constant  disposition  to  fall  back  into  my  old  pursuit  of 
worldly  happiness;  and  even  when  I  feel  no  relish  for  the  beggarly 
elements  around  me,  I  am  equally  devoid  of  taste  for  spiritual  good ;  so 
that  I  am  left  in  a  miserable  state  of  fluctuation  and  dissatisfaction. 

"11  p.  m.  From  some  cause  I  feel  much  relieved  from  melancholy, 
&c.  I  am  thankful  for  the  comfort,  but  distrust  its  source.  I  find  by 
recent  experience  that  when  I  emerge  from  gloom,  it  is  commonly 
to  run  into  the  opposite  extreme  of  negligence  and  levity.  God 
grant  that  I  may  soon  be  brought  into  tbe  golden  mean  of  cheerful 
obedience  and  unhesitating  confidence  in  His  fidelity  and  goodness  I" 

"  Feb.  10.  To  my  surprise  I  awoke  this  morning  with  an  agreeable 
impression  on  my  mind  of  the  words,  '  Though  I  walk  through  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  &c.'  I  am  struck  with  this  because  I 
begin  to  see  that  my  melancholy  feelings  may  be  all  resolved  into  an 
undignified  fear  of  death.  I  take  comfort,  however,  in  the  reflection 
that  my  dread  is  not  simply  that  the  terrors  of  death  are  great,  but 
that  they  may  be  so  great  as  to  overpower  faiih  and  love.  From  these 
forebodings  I  derive  at  least  temporary  relief  from  such  passages  as  the 
latter  part  of  Romans  viii  (a  glorious  revelation).  I  am  also  comforted, 
strengthened,  and  encouraged  by  the  experience  of  John  Newton  which 
teaches  me  that  my  want  of  deep  sensibility,  strong  convictions,  &c, 
though  a  melancholy  defect,  is  no  proof  that  I  am  not  in  Christ.  May 
God  preserve  me  from  unbelieving  despondency,  on  one  hand,  and  pre- 
sumptuous confidence  on  the  other.*     I  feel  that  I  need  trials  and 

*  This  was  an  almost  daily  petition  with  him,  long  afterwards. 


iEr.20.j  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  229 

troubles  to  make  me  feel,  as  well  as  know,  my  dependence  upon  God. 
Every  little  circumstance  distracts  my  thoughts,  and  throws  me  back 
into  my  old  associations;  and  yet  when  I  road  of  temptations,  &c,  I 
am  ready  to  say,  my  mountain  stands  firm. 

"11  p.  m.  By  engaging  in  long  and  somewhat  frivolous  discourse, 
I  find  that  I  have  lost  much  even  of  the  spiritual  taste  and  feeling  which 
I  had  this  morning — little  as  that  was.  I  do,  indeed,  want  something 
to  wean  my  affections  altogether  from  the  trifles  of  this  life.  I  am  apt 
to  think  sometimes,  that  if  placed  in  such  or  such  a  place,  I  should  be 
more  spiritual.  The  truth,  no  doubt,  is,  that  without  new  supplies  of 
grace,  I  would  carry  the  same  worldliness  into  any  situation.  My  own 
strength  is  perfect  weakness — when  shall  I  learn  to  lean  upon  my  all- 
sufficient  helper?  O  God,  humble  my  proud  heart,  crucify  my  lusts, 
subdue  my  obstinacy,  melt  my  insensibility,  and  bring  all  my  powers 
into  captivity  to  thee  only !  I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  awake  with 
thy  likeness." 

"  Feb.  11.  I  derive  much  pleasure,  and  I  hope  advantage,  from  the 
writings  of  John  Newton.  He  evidently  grounds  his  opinions  on  the 
"Word  of  God,  confirmed  by  personal  experience.  I  find  it  necessary, 
however,  to  beware  of  placing  my  dependence  on  human  aids.  Men 
are  fallible;  and  their  fallibility  is  everywhere  apparent.  lvalue  re- 
ligious books  because  they  bring  into  a  single  point  of  view,  truths 
which  are  detached  in  the  Scriptures;  and  because  they  show  the 
effects  the  religion  of  the  Bible  has,  actually,  upon  the  minds  of  men. 
In  almost  every  book,  however,  there  is  a  tincture  of  some  personal 
infirmity  or  error — an  overstraining  of  some  one  point  in  preference  to 
others.  Thus  Owen,  who  wrote  his  book  on  Spiritual  Mindedncss  in 
his  old  age,  when  waiting  for  his  last  change,  was  too  apt  to  underrate 
the  social  relations  and  man's  duties  as  a  member  of  society ;  while 
Newton,  who  was  wouderfully  changed  from  a  wicked  slave-dealer  to 
a  Christian  minister,  naturally  set  too  little  value  on  learning,  educa- 
tion, &c.  It  is  only  in  the  Book — the  Book  of  Books,  that  all  is  sym- 
metrical and  consistent;  Oh  may  I  love  it  more  and  more!  I  have 
felt  some  grateful  emotions  this  evening  in  reflecting  on  the  mercies  of 
God  in  arresting  my  sinful  projects  and  opening  my  eyes.  A  year  ago 
how  many  resolutions  had  I  broken  as  to  my  conduct  during  the  ensu- 
ing year!  But  alas,  such  feelings  with  me  are  but  transitory.  Light 
conversation  and  mere  literary  employments  distract  and  dissipate  my 
thoughts  till  I  feel  as  if  there  was  no  spiritual  life  within  me.  Lord, 
quicken  me!  " 

"  Feb.  12.    The  book  of  Ecclesiastes  is  an  exact  expression  of  the 


230  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  [1330. 

feelings  which  I  have  lately  experienced  as  to  the  vanity  of  earthly 
things.  How  true  is  it,  that  though  the  experience  of  men  is  infinitely 
various,  the  Bihle  contains  a  description  of  every  possihle  and  imagina- 
ble case. 

"I  have  reason  to  be  continually  upon  my  guard  against  internal 
enemies  as  well  as  those  without.  On  reading  the  report  of  the 
Oriental  Translation  Fund  of  London,  I  found  myself  at  night  carried 
back  by  a  current  of  strong  associations  into  my  old  train  of  thought, 
my  literary  projects,  &c.  This  I  must  watch  and  pray  to  be  delivered 
from ;  for  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  I  am  more  iu  danger  from  literary 
pursuits  than  from  any  other  quarter.  Sensual  gratification  I  always 
despised,  even  when  I  was  a  slave  to  it ;  but  intellectual  pleasure  has 
been  the  idol  to  which  I  have  deliberately  sacrificed  my  interests  and 
my  duty.  I  cannot  recollect  a  moment  in  which  the  prospect  of  any 
sensual  enjoyment  could  have  induced  me  to  have  abandoned  my  ac- 
quisitions and  the  hope  of  more  ;  whereas  I  would  at  any  time  have 
given  up  forever  the  pursuit  of  all  bodily  enjoyment  to  procure  some 
favourite  objects  of  the  other  kind.  But  amidst  the  turmoil  of  my  pas- 
sior is  I  can  -till  take  refuge  in  the  consciousness  that  my  supreme  desire 
is  to  make  God*s  glory  my  first  object,  and  to  use  all  things  else  as  in- 
struments.    God  preserve  me  in  this  disposition  for  Christ's  sake." 

"  Feb.  13.  O  Lord,  what  a  blank  is  the  past  week  !  What  progress 
have  I  made  toward  heaven  and  toward  thee  ?  I  am  not  even  so  peace- 
ful nor  so  single-eyed  as  I  was  a  week  ago.  Though  I  have  overcome 
the  temptations  of  old  lusts  which  gave  me  trouble,  the  lust  of  the  un- 
derstanding— the  most  plausible  and  insinuating  of  all  unsanctified 
affections,  seems  to  be  creeping  back  upon  me.  The  thirst  for  mere 
Literary  pleasure,  which  was  one  of  my  besetting  sins,  seems  to  threaten 
a  return.  I  can  only  guard  myself  by  making  sacred  literature  an  ob- 
ject of  attention,  for  which  reason  I  de-ign  to  study  Ilebrew  de  novo. 
Greek  I  study  with  exclusive  reference  to  the  Scriptures.  After  all, 
my  surest  dependence  is  on  Him  who  is,  and  was,  and  is  to  come ;  to 
Him  be  glory  forever  and  ever,  Amen." 

"  Feb.  14.  I  have  not  enjoyed  much  light  or  peace  to-day,  because 
I  have  not  sought  it  with  sufficient  zeal  and  diligence.  Unbelieving 
fears  or  wild  jmagination,  and  the  natural  aversion  of  the  heart  to  God 
have  kept  me  from  the  throne  of  Grace.  The  greatest  difficulty  which 
I  have  to  encounter  is  a  perfect  resignation  of  myself — life,  health, 
reputation,  talents,  acquisitions,  time,  and  all,  into  the  hands  of  God. 
I  feel  willing  to  do  great  things,  and  make  costly  sacrifices  in  His  ser- 
vice ;  but  it  seems  as  if  my  proud  heart  would  not  be  contented  with- 


Mr.  20.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  231 

out  having  some  share  in  ordering  my  steps.  Hide  me,  O  Lord,  under 
the  shadow  of  thy  wings  !  " 

"  Feh.  15.  The  evil  I  have  most  to  complain  of  to-day  is  dissipation 
and  distraction  of  mind.  Every  thing  seems  vague  and  undefined. 
Though  I  have  no  spiritual  distress,  I  have  no  clear  views  of  truth,  nor 
elevated  affections.  I  have  not  yet  learned  to  he  sufficiently  jealous  of 
myself.  I  am  too  apt  to  fall  hack  into  my  old  trains  of  thought  and 
association.  When  I  do  so,  and  in  consequence  forget  God  and  spiri- 
tual things  for  many  minutes,  I  invariahly  feel  a  painful  void  which 
can  only  be  filled  by  turning  my  attention  to  religious  matters  again. 
And,  I  thank  God,  I  feel  something  like  a  relish  for  His  service,  and 
though  hypochondriacal  still,  feel  little  attachmeut  to  my  own  life,  or 
the  world  in  comparison  with  that  which  lies  beyond." 

"Feb.  10.  At  times  to-day  I  have  enjoyed  considerable  peace  of 
mind  ;  but  for  the  most  part,  I  have  been  distracted  between  intellec- 
tual exercise  on  one  hand,  and  hypochondriacal  apprehensions,  on  the 
other.  From  the  latter  plague  I  never  feel  so  free  as  when  I  am  en- 
gaged in  prayer.  Yet,  strange  to  tell,  it  is  with  difficulty  that  I  can 
constrain  myself  to  go  upon  my  knees.  What  an  enigma  of  wickedness 
and  folly  do  I  daily  find  myself  to  be  !  I  am  astonished  that  I  could 
live  so  long  without  any  discovery  of  my  own  character — its  selfishness 
and  nieannes->,  its  weakness  and  inconsistency.  But  I  console  myself 
with  1  Corinthians,   xx.  51." 

"Feb.  17.  At  different  hours  on  this  as  on  every  other  day,  my 
feelings  vary.  Occasionally  I  am  quite  resigned  and  contented  to  re- 
pose upon  God's  wisdom  and  goodness.  These  are  my  happiest  mo- 
ments, but  they  are  few  and  transitory.  Would  to  God  I  were  rid  of 
this  selfish  solicitude,  which  not  only  mars  my  comfort  by  diffusing 
gloom  through  all  my  feelings,  but  engrosses  so  large  a  share  of  my 
attention  that  there  is  none  left  for  God." 

"  Feb.  18.  I  have  hardly  patience  to  continue  this  monotonous  and 
meagre  record.  My  experience  on  one  day  is  the  same  as  on  another. 
Still  1  desire  to  take  all  the  shame  and  grief  of  my  darkness  and  dis- 
comfort to  myself,  while  I  give  all  the  glory  to  God.  The  occasional 
intervals  of  satisfaction  which  I  enjoy  are  evidently  produced  by  com- 
munion with  Him,  while  the  disquietude  and  apathy  of  other  moments 
as  evidently  spring  from  a  neglect  of  religious  duties — tcvpie  e'Xejyo-ov." 

"  Feb.  19.  I  began  this  day  in  consideiable  peace  and  comfort,  and 
though  I  have  had  returns  of  my  dejection,  I  have  reason  to  be  thank- 
ful for  my  general  tranquillity.  At  noon,  when  alone,  I  felt  some 
emotions  of  sorrow  in  reading  the  account  of  our  Saviour's  agony." 


232  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  [1830. 

"  Feb.  20.  During  the  past  week  I  have  finished  Canticles,  and 
read  fi>rty-four  chapters  in  English.  I  have  aLo  finished  Matthew, 
read  all  of  Mark  and  eight  chapters  of  Luke  in  Greek.  In  the  Sep- 
tnagint  I  have  read  eighteen  chapters  of  Genesis ;  in  Martyn's  Persian 
"New  Testsment  the  remainder  of  the  Apocalypse  and  five  chapters  of 
Mark.  I  have  also  studied  Stuart's  Hebrew  grammar  and  Rosenmiiller's 
Arabic  grammar,  and  have  finished  the  revision  of  thirty-three  pages  of 
the  Greek  lexicon  ;  lastly,  I  have  read  much  of  the  first  volume  of 
John  Newton's  works,  and  several  other  books,  such  as'  Advice  to  a 
young  Christian,'  '  Jowett's  Christian  Remembrancer,'  &e. 

"  This  is  little  enough,  but  when  I  turn  to  spiritual  things,  and  ask 
what  progress  I  have  made  during  the  past  week  I  am  dumb  with  con- 
fusion. One  sin  stands  forth  with  especial  prominence — my  ungrateful 
and  presumptuous  neglect  of  intercourse  with  God.  I  have  scarcely 
prayed  regularly  during  the  whole  week.  Sloth  in  the  morning  com- 
bined with  other  delinquencies  would  drive  me  from  the  mercy-seat, 
were  it  not  for  such  grand  revelations  as  Isaiah  Ixiii.  25.  If  it  was  for 
my  sake  the  Lord  showed  me  favour,  I  might  well  despair  of  ever 
gaining  it,  but  since,  as  he  expressly  declares,  it  is  for  His  own  sake,  I 
submit — my  defections  make  me  cling  closer  to  the  throne  of  God  and 
to  the  cross  of  Christ.  Still  I  must  do  something,  and  therefore  with 
reliance  on  Divine  help  I  resolve  that  in  the  coming  week  I  will  arise 
as  soon  as  I  awake,  and  devote  the  time  so  gained  to  secret  prayer.  If 
the  immaculate  Saviour  rose  '  a  great  while  before  day,'  and  spent 
whole  nights  in  prayer,  surely  I  ought  to  pray  without  ceasing." 

"  Feb.  21.  I  was  enabled  to-day,  after  a  slight  struggle,  to  gain  the 
victory  over  sloth,  and  rise  a  little  earlier  than  usual.  Read  the  Scrip- 
tures with  great  pleasure  and  I  hope  Divine  illumination.  I  am  aston- 
ished to  meet  with  such  multiplied  and  convincing  evidences  of  the 
deity  of  Christ.  I  never  saw  them  before  because  I  looked  for  direct, 
positive  declarations,  whereas  the  most  satisfactory  proofs  are,  appa- 
rently, minute  and  accidental.  In  fact,  the  strongest  argument,  it 
seems  to  me,  is  that  the  supposition  of  Christ's  divinity  gives  a  har- 
mony, consistency  and  beauty  to  the  Scriptures  which  they  cannot 
have  without  it.  The  point  to  which  my  attention  has  been  chiefly 
called  to-day,  in  relation  to  this  matter,  is  the  fact  that  God  is  repeat- 
edly declared  to  be  the  only  Saviour,  and  that  this  name  is  as  strongly 
claimed  by  Him,  as  one  of  His  inalienable  titles,  as  any  other;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  it  is  so  expressly  given  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  New 
Testament,  that  it  has  become  his  most  familiar  and  appropriate  epi- 
thet throughout  the  Christian  world.     Under  the  influence  of  these 


^Et.20.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  233 

considerations,  I  cannot  help  regarding  Christ  in  God,  when  I  examine 
in  connection  the  following  texts,  which  I  have  been  able  to  turn  to 
without  a  concordance  (multitudes  of  others  tend  to  the  same  point) 
Isaiah  xliii.  11;  xlv.  42;  Jude,  25;  1  Tim.  i.  1;  2  Peter  i.  1,  3,  18- 
Two  of  these  (1  Tim  i.  1,  and  2  Peter  i.  1)  admit  of  an  interpretation 
which  amounts  to  positive  assertion  of  Christ's  deity,  but  even  waiving 
this,  they  satisfy  me. 

"Read the  9th  chapter  of  Luke  with  feelings  altogether  new.  What 
a  glory  is  thrown  upon  the  gospel  history  by  keeping  constantly  in 
view  its  connection  with  the  former  dispensation!  I  have  been  too 
apt,  in  spite  of  the  Saviour's  own  admonition,  to  suppose  that  he  came 
to  destroy  the  law.  I  have  commonly  looked  upon  his  advent  &c.  as 
a  plan  formed  subsequently  to  the  revelations  of  the  Old  Testament. 
But  now,  when  I  read  the  predictions  of  a  Messiah  in  the  prophets,  the 
types  of  him  in  the  ceremonial  law,  the  promise  of  him  in  paradise, 
and  then  turn  and  read  the  gospel  as  nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  con- 
tinuation of  the  history;  recognizing  in  Christ  the  Messiah  foretold 
of  old,  and  all  that  he  did  as  steps  taken  to  accomplish  the  grand 
scheme — it  is  unutterably  glorious.  In  reading  our  Lord's  instructions 
to  his  apostles,  Luke  ix.  1-6,  I  was  more  than  ever,  or  rather  for  the 
first  time,  struck  with  the  fact  that  he  did  not  heal  the  sick  and  raise 
the  dead  for  mere  sympathetic  feeling  for  the  sorrows  of  the  sufferers, 
but  as  means  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  end  of  his  incarna- 
tion. I  read  the  account  of  the  transfiguration  with  new  emotions, 
heightened  by  a  recollection  of  the  intercourse  between  God  and 
Moses  and  Elias  in  former  times.  Two  circumstances  struck  me: 
Moses  talked  to  Jesus  of  the  egoftos  which  he  should  accomplish  at  Je- 
rusalem ; — what  a  contrast  must  there  have  been  between  the  feelings 
of  Elijah,  when  he  stood  with  his  face  wrapped  in  his  mantle  at  the 
entering  in  of  the  cave,  trembling  at  the  still  small  voice  of  his  unseen 
God,  and  those  which  he  experienced  on  the  summit  of  Mount  Tabor 
hearing  the  same  voice  proceed  from  the  excellent  glory,  and  convers- 
ing with  the  same  God,  incarnate,  face  to  face!  Moses  was  a  great  man 
— Elijah  was  a  great  man,  and  the  simple  inscription  given  in  the 
gospel  of  their  intercourse  with  the  Saviour,  at  this  time,  gave  me 
some  impressions  and  strong  feelings  of  the  Saviour's  glory  which  I 
never  had  before,  but  which  I  never  wish  to  lose.  Is  it  not  strange 
that  my  conceptions  of  the  Saviour  should  be  still  so  gross — that  even 
Moses  and  Elias  could  reflect  light  upon  Him? 

"11  o'clock,  A.  m.     Heard  Mr.  Woodhull  on  Jesus  Christ  and  Him 
crucified.     At  4.  p.  m.,  Mr.  Bush  lectured  at  the  school  on  the  Ten  Vir- 


234  EXPERIMENTAL   JOURNAL.  [1830. 

gins  and  the  Talents.  Went  home  and  attended  the  religious  confer- 
ence in  the  Seminary — subject,  zeal.  I  have  enjoyed,  to-day,  unusual 
peace  and  satisfaction.  These  feelings  were  less  strong  toward  even- 
ing ;  probably  because  I  trusted  too  much  in  my  own  ability  to  keep  up 
such  emotions  at  my  pleasure.  The  Lord  preserve  me  from  self-confi- 
dence !  I  have  read,  to-day,  in  Greek,  Luke  9-12  ;  in  English,  Isaiah 
xliv-xlviii;  Newton's  letters,  Force  of  Truth,  Jowett's  Researches." 

"Feb.  22.  I  feel  a  sensible  declension  from  the  elevation  of  feel- 
ing which  I  enjoyed  yesterday.  It  arises  partly,  no  doubt,  from  my 
necessary  return  to  secular  business,  but  also,  in  a  great  measure,  from 
my  proneness  to  self-confidence  and  to  forget  that  of  myself  I  can  do 
nothing.  Oh,  that  I  had  attained  that  stage  in  the  progress  of  the 
soul  in  which  the  only  motive  is  the  love  of  God ;  the  only  end,  the 
glory  of  God,  and  the  only  dependence  on  the  grace  of  God  !  I  also 
need  to  be  constantly  reminded  of  the  emptiness  of  this  world,  and 
its  tumult  of  affairs!  Oh,  that  it  were  written  indelibly  in  my  heart 
— evos,  tvos,  ecrri  xpeia." 

"  Feb.  24.  I  am  backsliding  very  fast ;  the  change  is  very  sensible. 
I  find  the  impression  which  I  had  of  the  vanity  of  earthly  things  fast 
wearing  off;  the  little  sense  which  I  had  gained  of  the  excellence  of 
holiness  becoming  less  and  less  lively,  and  all  my  feelings  setting  back 
towards  their  ancient  current.  The  worst  symptom  of  all  this  is,  that 
I  feel  no  grief  on  account  of  this  declension.  And  yet  amidst  it  all  I 
feel  that  I  could  cheerfully  sacrifice  all  the  pleasures,  gains  and  honours 
of  the  world  for  an  increase  in  holiness.     Lord,  save  me — I  perish. 

"Feb.  25.  It  pleased  God  to  rouse  me  from  the  lethargy  into 
which  I  was  sinking,  by  a  deep  wound  in  my  pride ;  occasioned  by  the 
contemptuous  treatment  of  one  of  my  large  pupils  who  has  always  be- 
haved to  me  with  great  respect.  I  bless  God  I  was  enabled  to  defer 
my  anger,  to  repress  all  resentful  feelings  and  to  pay  the  boy's  imperti- 
nence with  kindness  and  forbearance.  It  was,  indeed,  of  great  use  to 
me,  by  giving  me  a  clearer  view  of  the  precarious  tenure  by  which  men 
possess  the  respect  and  esteem  of  others,  and  so  leading  me  to  renounce 
the  world  as  a  source  of  happiness.  While  under  the  influence  of  this 
incident,  I  read  Jeremiah  ii.,  and  was  astonished  at  its  appropriateness 
to  my  own  case.  A  personal  address  on  the  subject  of  my  backsliding 
could  not  come  more  home.  Verses  13,  17,  23,  34,  37,  struck  me  par- 
ticularly as  precisely  applicable.  Oh,  that  the  Lord  w^ould  sanctify 
this  portion  of  His  work  as  a  means  of  awakening,  convincing,  and 
humbling  me ! " 

"  Feb.  27.     For  some  days  past  I  have  been  vexed  by  a  return  of 


^t.20.j  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  235 

some  old  feelings  which  I  thought  had  quit  me  long  ago.  Their  first 
effect  has  been  to  agitato  and  disturb  mc ;  their  second  to  drive  me 
hack  to  God  as  the  only  source  of  true  felicity.  I  conversed  this  after- 
noon with  Mr.  Patton  on  the  subject  of  religion.  He  gave  me  some 
account  of  his  experience,  which,  in  some  respects,  resembles  mine. 
One  observation  of  his  struck  me,  viz. — that  when  the  soul  is  harassed 
with  doubts  and  difficulties  as  to  the  evidences  of  its  state,  peace  may 
often  be  obtained  by  asking  itself  a  simple  question :  '  Would  any  thing 
induce  me  to  give  up  my  hope,  such  as  it  is  ? ' 

To-morrow  is  the  blessed  Sabbath.  Tfow  little  did  I  think,  six 
months  ago,  that  I  should  ever  hail  its  return  with  joy;  not  as  a  season 
of  mere  relaxation,  but  a  precious  opportunity  of  waiting  upon  God. 
I  thank  the  Lord  that  he  has  enabled  me  to  look  upon  His  Sabbath  as 
a  delight  and  as  honourable.  Oh,  may  He  give  me  grace  to  sanctify 
the  coming  day  aright!  " 

"Feb.  28.  I  went  to  sleep  last  night  with  a  delightful  impression 
on  my  mind  of  the  relation  between  Christ  and  His  followers,  as  repre- 
sented by  the  figure  of  a  shepherd  and  his  sheep.  There  seemed  to  be 
a  force  and  beauty  in  the  allegory  which  I  had  never  before  observed. 
This  morning  I  awoke  earlier  than  common.  It  is  somewhat  singular 
that  for  some  time  past,  though  I  have  generally  slept  till  late,  I  have 
been  awakened  early  Sabbath  morning  by  the  crowing  of  the  cock. 
Through  the  day  I  have  been  generally  comfortable  and  have  had 
much  more  enjoyment  in  secret  prayer." 

"March  1.  After  reviewing  my  recorded  experience  during  the 
month  just  past  and  endeavouring  to  feel  some  of  that  humiliation 
which  my  coldness,  sloth  and  inconsistency  afford  so  much  reason  for, 
I  venture,  in  reliance  upon  God's  assistance  to  resolve:  1.  That  during 
the  present  month  I  will  endeavour  to  watch  with  redoubled  vigilance 
against  the  beginnings  of  evil;  especially  against  those  temptations 
which  I  know  by  experience  to  be  most  dangerous.  2.  That  I  will  en- 
deavour to  act  more  upon  principle,  with  more  regard  to  the  will  of 
God.  8.  That  I  will  endeavour  to  avoid  with  equal  diligence,  an  irre- 
ligious levity,  and  an  unprofitable  despondency  and  gloom.  4.  That  I  will 
watch  with  more  care  against  sloth  ;  endeavouring  to  improve  the  time 
more  than  I  have  done.  5.  That  I  will  endeavour  to  cultivate  a  prin- 
ciple of  Christian  benevolence,  and  love.  0.  That  I  will  endeavour  to 
mortify  my  pride;  especially  those  latent  forms  under  which  that  evil 
principle  conceals  itself-  7.  That  I  will  guard  against  my  old  enemy — 
the  love  of  intellectual  pleasure  ;  by  studying  with  regularity,  and  with 
constant  reference  to  the  grand  object  of  all  study.    8.  That  I  will  en- 


236  EXPERIMENTAL   JOURNAL.  [1830. 

deavour  to  study  God's  Word  with  more  reverence,  attention,  patience, 
faith,  and  love.  9.  That  I  will  pay  such  attention  to  my  own  health  as 
duty  seems  to  demand,  by  moderation  in  diet  and  regularity  in  exercise. 
10.  That  having  done  all  I  will  throw  myself,  always  and  forever,  on 
the  gracious  aid  of  the  Almighty,  without  which  I  cannot  stir  a  step  in 
my  progress  toward  perfection. 

"  And  now,  O  Omniscient  Searcher  of  hearts  !  if  thou  seest  any  in- 
sincerity in  these  resolves,  purge  it,  I  heseech  thee,  from  my  heart ;  and 
if  I  am  indeed  sincere,  Oh,  enable  me  to  keep  the  vow  which  I  now 
make  in  thy  name  and  presence :  for  the  sake  of  Christ.     Amen." 

"  March  2.  I  have  had  something  of  a  struggle  to-day  between  my 
literary  lusts,  so  to  speak,  and  a  sense  of  duty.  I  fully  believe,  from 
experience  as  well  as  testimony,  that  an  exclusive  devotion  to  intellec- 
tual pursuits  is  one  of  the  worst  enemies  with  which  the  renewed  soul 
has  to  grapple.  I  am  not  certain  that  I  ought  not  to  relinquish  my 
Arahic ;  at  least  for  the  present ;  as  I  have  relinquished  French,  Spanish, 
German  and  Italian  reading." 

"  March  7.  How  seldom  do  wre  know  what  we  are  praying  for, 
when  we  ask  God,  upon  our  knees,  to  humble  us,  show  us  our  vileness, 
wean  us  from  dependence  on  ourselves,  &c!  For  my  own  part  I  know 
that  when  I  offer  such  petitions,  I  commonly  expect  them  to  be  an- 
swered by  an  immediate  operation  on  my  heart,  without  the  interven- 
tion of  external  means.  No  wonder,  then,  that  I  am  often  taken  by 
surprise  by  the  answer  to  my  own  earnest  supplications.  On  Tuesday 
(Mar.  1,)  I  vowed,  among  other  things,  to  endeavour  to  mortify  my 
pride ;  especially  those  latent  forms  under  which  that  evil  principle 
conceals  itself.  At  the  same  time  I  besought  the  Lord  to  assist  me  in 
adhering  to  this  resolution,  and  to  detect  any  insincerity  by  which  it 
might  be  vitiated.  On  Tuesday  all  went  well,  but  on  Wednesday  a 
trifling  occurrence  was  permitted  so  to  stir  up  the  corrupt  mass  of  my 
bad  passions,  especially  my  pride,  that  I  stood  amazed  at  the  mingled 
folly,  wickedness  and  helplessness  of  my  own  heart.  Yet,  strange  to 
tell,  it  never  occurred  to  me  until  this  evening,  that  this  occurrence 
was  in  answer  to  my  own  request  and  was  graciously  designed  to  show 
me  what  a  risk  I  run  whenever  I  presume  to  make  a  vow  or  resolution 
in  dependence  on  myself.  If  this  be  indeed  so,  I  bless  God  for  the 
timely  warning,  and  hope  to  profit  by  it.  The  two  great  evils  I  have 
to  complain  of  are,  my  proneness  to  act  upon  mere  impulse,  without 
regard  to  principle,  and  my  inability  to  view  things  temporal  and  eter- 
nal in  their  great  proportions." 

"March  15.     O  Lord!  Thou  knowest  me  altogether;  when  I  look 


^Et.20.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  237 

back  through  the  past  week  and  consider  my  neglect  of  thee,  my  dis- 
content, my  ungrateful  and  rebellious  murmurings  against  thy  provi- 
dence, how  can  I  appear  before  thee?  And  yet,  when  I  look  further 
back  and  remember  my  presumptuous  self-confidence,  my  fancied 
preparation  for  all  trials,  I  cannot  but  acknowledge  in  the  dust  before 
thee,  that  I  did  indeed  need  a  lesson  such  as  tliou  only  canst  give. 
With  shame,  too,  I  confess,  O  thou  long-sufi'ering  and  gracious  Lord ! 
my  selfish  reservations  in  giving  myself  up  to  thee.  Thou  hast  opened 
my  eyes  to  see  that  in  all  my  acts  of  self-devotion,  I  have  constantly 
prescribed  conditions  unto  thee ;  consenting  to  serve  thee  if  thou 
wouldst  let  me  choose  the  circumstances;  submitting  to  thy  will,  pro- 
vided it  coincided  with  my  own;  and  professing  myself  willing  to 
undergo  all  sufferings,  provided  I  should  never  be  required  in  practice 
to  submit  to  them.  Even  now,  0  Lord !  with  my  eyes  in  a  measure 
open  to  the  wickedness  and  folly  of  such  dealings  with  a  holy,  merciful 
and  jealous  God — even  now  my  corrupt,  my  rotten  heart  suggests  that 
these  confessions  will  bribe  thee  to  deliver  me  from  the  natural  evil, 
with  the  fear  of  which  I  have  been  long  tormented.  Against  this  dia- 
bolical and  mad  corruption,  I  would  strive ;  but  where  is  my  strength  ? 
When  I  should  have  clung  to  the  throne — to  the  cross — to  the  promises, 
with  most  tenacity,  I  have  foolishly  forsaken  them  ;  what  wonder  then 
that  I  am  weak,  blind,  unwilling  and  unable  to  confide  in  thee — all- 
faithful  as  thou  art?  O  God,  thou  art  just!  I  deserve  it  all:  but  in 
the  name  of  one  whose  intercession  thou  canst  not  despise,  I  pray — 
with  agony  pray,  that  I  may  be  made  willing  to  do  or  to  suffer  any 
thing!     Amen." 

"March  1G.  O  Lord,  God  of  infinite  compassion!  words  fail  me 
when  I  undertake  to  express  my  gratitude— or  rather  obligations  to 
thy  goodness.  I  can  hardly  believe  that  I  am  spared,  preserved,  ex- 
empted from  excruciating  torments.  What  am  I,  O  Lord  !  that  thou 
shouldest  regard  me,  even  for  a  moment,  with  forbearance.  O  Lord! 
extirpate  this  hypocrisy  that  taints  every  exercise  of  my  soul.  Save 
me,  I  implore  thee,  from  the  damning  sin  of  uttering  words  before  thee 
which  belie  my  thoughts.  When  I  say  that  I  am  vile.  Oh  drench  my 
spirit  in  an  overwhelming  flood  of  shame  and  unfeigned  humiliation  at 
the  thought  of  my  pollution!  When  I  confess  my  enormities,  0  suffer 
me  not  to  confess  them  with  my  lips  alone! — make  me  feel  that  I  am 
viler  than  any  language  can  describe  me." 

"March  17.  This  morning  little  Harriet  Pat  ton  died  of  the  scarlet 
fever.  On  Sunday  she  was  at  church,  and  appeared  as  well  as  usual. 
How  shall  I  derive  any  personal  advantage  from  this  melancholy  event? 


238  EXPERIMENTAL   JOURNAL.  [1830. 

The  Lord  seems  to  be  teaching  me,  by  repeated  lessons,  the  shortness 
and  uncertainty  of  life;  the  folly  and  meanness  of  mere  hypochondriacal 
depressions;  when  the  occasions  of  real  sorrow  are  so  numerous  around 
me;  the  necessity,  the  absolute  necessity,  of  providing  sources  of  relief 
and  consolation  altogether  independent  of  mere  human  circumstances. 
From  the  gloom  which  at  present  clouds  this  house  of  mourning,  I  feel 
constantly  disposed  to  take  refuge  by  visiting  or  thinking  of  my  father's 
family;  where  all  are  well,  and  where  I  might  no  doubt,  obtain  a  tem- 
porary and  unprofitable  interval  of  freedom  from  unpleasant  thoughts. 
But  when  I  begin  to  make  the  supposition  that  death  might  enter  even 
that  asylum ;  that  one  and  another  even  of  that  circle,  to  which  all  my 
affections  have  so  long  been  selfishly  confined,  might  be  removed  as 
suddenly  as  this  poor  child;  when  I  merely  imagine  these  events  as 
possible ;  my  very  soul  grows  sick  and  revolts  from  the  painful  thought. 
But  why?  It  must  be  so  at  some  time!  Nothing  can  be  more  certain 
than  that  sooner  or  later  I  must  either  die  and  leave  my  friends,  or 
must  survive  the  last  wreck  of  my  family.  "Where,  then,  is  the  wisdom 
of  shutting  my  eyes  to  the  consideration  of  such  truths?  The  fact  is, 
at  least  in  my  case,  that  strong  remedies  are  necessary  to  overcome 
this  sickly  tenderness.  Men  must  die  :  they  are  dying  every  moment; 
and  the  very  unavoidableness  of  the  event  seems  to  tempt  us  all  to 
labour  to  forget  it.  In  no  circumstances  do  men  hew  out  broken  cis- 
terns with  such  perverse  diligence  as  when  shrouded  in  the  gloom  pro- 
duced by  the  death  of  friends.  And,  indeed,  this  would  be  the  height 
of  wisdom,  if  death-were  the  closing  scene.  If  we  ceased  to  exist  at 
death,  and  death  were  inevitable,  it  would  be  gross  folly  to  torment 
ourselves  with  apprehensions  which  could  only  multiply  our  pangs. 
But  is  it  so?  Or  if  salvation  was  a  hopeless  thing;  if  death  must 
necessirily  plunge  us  into  misery;  I  cannot  see  what  better  course  we 
could  pursue  than  to  exclude  it  altogether  from  our  thoughts.  But  if 
it  be  true  (and  multitudes  who  act  thus  will  at  least  profess  to  believe 
it),  if  it  be  true  that  one  ray  of  light  from  heaven  beaming  into  the 
soul,  one  single  ray  of  spiritual  light,  could  dispel  this  darkness  per- 
il- tly;  it'  it  be  true  that  thousands  have  enjoyed  this  beatific  sunshine 
in  the  midst  of  sorrows — nay,  amidst  the  pangs  of  death;  if  it  be  true 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  is  as  willing  now  as  ever  to  impart  this  delightful 
gift;  and  indeed  only  shuts  up  the  apertures  through  which  the  dim 
light  of  this  world  shines  in  order  to  lead  us  to  another  source  of  illu- 
mination ;  if  it  be  true  that  we  have  only  to  resign  ourselves  to  God, 
disputing  nothing — leaving  all  to  Him  in  absolute  defiance  of  appear- 
ances and  of  ourselves;  why  should  we  be  depressed  at  all? 


^Et.20.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  239 

"  Noon.  I  have  been  to-day  inexpressibly  gloomy.  Tbe  concur- 
rence of  so  many  melancboly  circumstances  tinges  my  imagination  with 
a  dye  of  tenfold  blackness.  Tbe  death  of  tins  cbild ;  my  hypochondria  ; 
my  slight  indisposition;  the  gloomy  weather;  but  above  all,  the  un- 
settled state  of  ray  mind  as  to  religion.  I  find  there  are  two  kinds  of 
assurance  necessary  to  religious  comfort :  1.  An  assurance  of  the  truth 
of  Christianity.  2.  An  assurance  of  personal  interest  in  its  advantages. 
On  both  these  points  I  feel  a  corroding  anxiety  entirely  incompatible 
with  joy  or  peace  or  even  resignation.  My  doubts  as  to  Christianity 
itself  are  not  so  much  settled  and  habitual  misgivings,  as  occasional 
suggestions  of  distrust  and  scepticism.  1  have  good  evidence  that  this 
state  of  mind  arises  from  corruption  and  is  radically  sinful ;  because  I 
feel  myself  continually  prone  to  lay  a  thousand  times  more  stress  on 
difficulties  and  objections,  than  on  arguments  that  lean  the  other  way. 
My  perplexities  on  the  other  matter  are  more  constant  and  abiding. 
I  have  so  little  evidence  within  me  (and  where  that  is  wanting  what 
external  indications  can  avail)  I  feel  so  little  evidence  within  me  of  a 
renewed  heart,  and  a  principle  of  grace,  that  I  am  continually  tossed 
about  in  miserable  uncertainty.  I  think  internal  evidence  of  one's  ac- 
ceptance far  more  valuable  by  itself  than  the  most  ample  satisfaction 
of  the  understanding  as  to  the  verity  of  Christianity.  For  it  seems  to 
me  that  the  former,  where  it  exists  at  all,  must  be  founded  on  a  con- 
sciousness of  changes  wrought  in  tbe  character  and  feelings  which  no 
lower  cause  than  a  divine  operation  can  produce;  and  consequently 
must  include,  in  some  degree,  a  lively  conviction  of  the  truth  of  the 
gospel.  Tbe  other,  on  the  contrary,  may  be  wholly  unattended  even 
by  a  belief  in  one's  conversion — nay,  a  man  may  preach  and  convince 
others  and  be  a  cast-away.  What  tben  are  the  necessities  which  press 
most  heavily  upon  me  in  my  present  circumstances  ? 

"  To-night  it  pleased  the  Lord  to  give  me  some  stability  of  confi- 
dence in  the  Scriptures  ;  through  the  reading  of  Scott's  preface  to  the 
Bible. 

"  April  24.  I  am  this  day  twenty-one  years  old,  and  after  looking 
back  upon  my  past  life,  and  forward  to  eternity,  having  also  sought  in- 
struction in  Cod's  "Word  and  at  the  throne  of  grace,  I  desire  with  few 
words,  but  with  a  fixed  heart,  to  consecrate  myself,  soul  and  body,  now 
and  forever,  to  the  God  who  made  me.  With  this  intent  I  now  most 
solemnly  renounce  the  service  of  the  devil,  my  late  master;  abandoning 
not  only  certain  sins,  but  sin  itself;  with  all  its  pleasures,  honours 
and  emoluments;  desiringand  beseeching  Cod  never  more  to  suffer  me 
to  taste  the  least  enjoyment  of  a  sinful  nature.     I  also  bind  my  con- 


240  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL. 


[1830. 


science  in  the  presence  of  the  jealous  God  who  searches  the  heart  and 
cannot  look  upon  iniquity  without  abhorrence,  to  watch  against  all 
temptation;  and,  if  necessary,  to  resist  unto  blood  striving  against  sin. 
At  the  same  time  I  renounce  all  dependence  upon  any  thing  I  may  be, 
do  or  suffer,  here  or  hereafter,  as  a  ground  of  deliverance  from  hell — 
trusting  for  mercy  in  the  cross  of  Christ.  And  having  thus  discharged 
myself  from  all  allegiance  to  the  Prince  of  Darkness,  I  submit  myself  to 
God  in  Christ ;  desiring  and  consenting  to  be  His  forever,  to  do  and  suf- 
fer all  His  will,  in  the  joyful  hope  of  an  eternal  recompense.  And  now, 
having  learned  by  sad  experience,  the  deceitfulness  of  my  own  heart, 
the  weakne.-s  of  my  resolution  and  the  craft  of  Satan,  I  throw  myself 
at  thy  feet,  O  Lord  !  and  claim  the  promise  of  thy  strengthening  and  il- 
luminating grace  to  aid  me  in  the  performance  of  these  vows.  Oh,  let 
me  not,  I  pray  thee,  be  forsworn!  Let  me  not  insult  thy  majesty  by 
perjury  so  gross — so  impious — so  damnable!  Keep  me,  O  God,  in  the 
hollow  of  thy  hand  !  For  the  sake  of  thy  dear  Son  impart  to  me  the 
gift  of  thy  free  Spirit  to  purify,  enlighten  and  transform  my  heart! 
Through  life  may  I  be  thine,  and  in  death,  O  Lord,  in  death  be  thou 
my  God  !  Again,  and  again,  and  again  I  solemnly  devote  myself  to  God 
the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost;  desiring  nothing, 
hoping  nothing,  fearing  nothing  if  I  may  but  be  accepted  in  the  name 
of  Christ!    Amen." 

"  April  25.  Head  the  epistle  to  Titus  in  Greek  and  English.  What 
a  comfort  it  must  be  to  ministers  that  the  apostle  Paul  has  left  such 
particular  directions  in  relation  to  their  office,  the  character  of  the  in- 
cumbents and  the  subjects  of  their  preaching!  I  was  much  struck  with 
the  explicit  charge  he  gives  to  Titus,  to  insist  upon  the  great  doctrines 
of  redemption  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and  regeneration  through  the 
influences  of  the  Spirit,  and  to  avoid  vain  controversy.  What  a  rebuke 
to  the  zealots  of  the  present  age!  who,  as  Robert  Hall  says,  forget  the 
things  about  which  they  agree,  in  disputing  about  those  in  which  they 
differ.  I  am  also  struck  with  the  fidelity  in  adhering  to  his  own  direc- 
tions by  frequently  and  repeatedly  summing  up  the  essentials  of  Chris- 
tianity in  a  few  words.  This  is  done  with  wonderful  brevity  and  force 
in  verses  3,  4,  5,  G,  and  V  of  the  third  chapter  of  this  epistle.  In  this 
short  passage  we  have:  1.  A  clear  exhibition  of  universal  depravity. 
2.  Of  God's  free  grace.  3.  Of  the  offices  of  the  Son  and  Spirit  in  the 
work  of  redemption  and  sanctification. 

"  Read  the  Section  Daleth  in  the  cxixth  Psalm.  I  have  derived  great 
satisfaction,  within  a  few  days,  from  perusing  this  masterpiece  of  devo- 
tion.     It  is  not  to  be  read  like  the  epistles  ;  which  I  find  are  most 


Mr.  21.]  EXPERIMENTAL    JOURNAL.  241 

intelligible  and  impressivo  when  perused  upon  Locke's  plan,  continu- 
ously and  as  a  whole.  The  Psalms  must  be  taken  piece-meal ;  and 
drank  in  drop  by  drop.  Every  verse  seems  to  be  full  of  meaning,  and 
to  become  more  so  the  longer  it  is  pondered.  I  find  it  advantageous 
to  read  each  verse  in  the  original,  and,  also,  in  such  versions  as  I  liave 
at  hand.    This  I  have  read  in  Hebrew,  Latin,  French  and  Euglish. 

This  is  the  end  of  his  experimental  journal  so  far  as  it  has 
been  continuously  preserved.  Detached  entries  reappear,  but 
from  this  time  nearly  all  his  diaries  of  this  nature  were  kept 
in  separate  books  w#iich  were  afterwards  destroyed.  The  in- 
ner history  of  his  soul  can  be  truly  read  only  in  the  light  of 
these  fragments  which  have  escaped  the  flames.  He  seldom 
spoke  about  his  own  spiritual  state.  The  silence  of  his 
journals  as  to  this  important  subject  for  so  long  a  course  of 
years  cannot  be  compensated.  It  is  "hiatus  maxime  de- 
flondus." 

11 


CHAPTER  VII. 

In-  the  month  of  July  of  this  year,  Mr.  Alexander  was 
dangerously  sick  with  scarlet  fever.  It  was  seldom  indeed 
that  he  suffered  from  any  thing  that  could  he  called  illness,  and 
he  was  hardly  ever  known  to  be  confined  to  his  bed.  On  this 
occasion  he  was  very  patient,  and  a  survivor  distinctly  recalls 
his  placid  face  and  quiet  grateful  ways.  This  attack  though 
sharp  was  soon  over;  and  upon  his  recovery  he  was,  on  the 
29th  day  of  the  same  month,  appointed  by  the  trustees  Ad- 
junct Professor  of  Ancient  Languages  And  Literature  in  the 
College  of  New  Jersey,  with  the  understanding  that  he  was  to 
reside  in  the  College  and  act  as  tutor.  This  position  was  one 
which  afforded  many  advantages  in  the  way  of  self-improve- 
ment. The  College  tasks  were  not  burdensome  to  him,  and 
left  much  leisure  for  the  prosecution  of  other  and  still  more 
congenial  studies.  The  rigid  sameness  of  the  academic  rou- 
tine  no  doubt  fatigued  and  possibly  fretted  him ;  but  its 
methodical  regularity  was  exactly  what  he  liked.  The  scholas- 
tic repose  of  certain  hours,  the  lively  noise  of  others  ;  the  un. 
broken  seclusion  of  his  own  apartments ;  the  verdant  or 
frozen  lawn,  that  was  spread  like  a  carpet  of  velvet,  or 
snow*  under  his  window;  the  grateful  early  summer  shades; 
the  occasional  intercourse  of  men  of  learning  and  talents,  or  at 
any  rate  of  extensive  information  and  experience ;  must  for  a 
while  at  least,  have  been  agreeable  to  his  tastes  and  disposi- 
tion. But  the  truth  was,  when  not  fully  employed,  he  be- 
came wretched  in  any  situation  of  unvaried  repose.  He  loved 
to  be  surrounded  by  excitement,  and  was  never  so  happy  as 

*  He  lived  in  the  college ;  No.  59  of  the  old  college,  now  burnt ;  next  to 
the  bell-rope. 


^Et.21.]  ENTRANCE    UPON   HIS    PROFESSORSHIP.  243 

when  the  sport  of  painless  vicissitude.  It  may  be  inferred 
that  he  soon  wearied  of  his  work  at  the  College. 

If  by  this  is  meant,  that  he  was  often  restless  in  his  new 
employment,  and  at  times  thirsted  for  a  change,  the  inference 
is  probably  correct.  But  if  it  be  meant,  that  he  was  on  the 
whole  dissatisfied  with  his  new  situation,  or  that  he  was  soon 
induced  to  give  up  the  post,  the  impression  is  a  mistaken  one. 
His  diaries  lend  no  countenance  to  any  such  notion ;  and  he  re- 
mained at  the  College  till  he  set  sail  for  Europe,  that  is  for  a 
period  of  two  years  and  five  months,  and  then  (to  use  a  po- 
litical phrase)  he  gave  up  his  portfolio  in  obedience  to  the 
dictate  of  obvious  and  imperative  duty. 

His  journal  contains  a  transcript  of  his  feelings  at  this  time, 
and  presents  a  somewhat  detailed  account  of  his  mental  oper- 
ations, as  well  as  the  series  of  his  regular  tasks  in  the  College. 

"Dec.  16.  On  the  11th  day  of  November  I  entered  on  my 
duties  as  actual  *  tutor  and  nominal  Professor  in  the  College  of  New 
Jersey.  My  official  labours  are  not  so  burdensome  but  that  they  leave 
me  considerable  time  for  study.  Indeed,  I  should  not  have  accepted 
the  appointment,  except  upon  the  supposition  that  I  should  be  able  to 
continue  my  professional  pursuits.  Having  finally  resolved  upon  prep- 
aration for  the  ministry,  I  feel  the  satisfaction  and  advantage  of  having 
some  one  definite  object  in  my  studies,  instead  of  wandering  amidst  a 
thousand,  under  the  mere  guidance  of  capricious  inclination.  I  have 
set  befure  me  as  the  specific  end  of  my  toils,  to  become  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  Scriptures ;  philologically,  theologically,  practi- 
cally ;  and  so  to  qualify  myself  for  interpreting  them  properly  to  others. 
My  studies  having  this  for  their  chief  end,  will,  at  present,  fall  under 
three  distinct  heads:  1.  Biblical  criticism.  2.  Systematic  theology. 
3.  History.  To  the  first  I  shall  for  some  time  devote  one  whole  day  in 
each  week;  to  the  second,  four;  and  to  the  third,  one.  The  first  and 
third  will  however  receive  some  attention  every  day.  My  course  of 
study  in  the  first  branch  will  consist  in  studying  the  original  Scriptures, 
and  in  reading  approved  works  on  criticism,  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
Hodge.     Before  taking  up  theology  proper,  my  father  advises  a  course 

*  He  acted  as  tutor  so  far  as  discipline  in  the  building  was  concerned,  but 
was  never  tutor  by  appointment. 


244  PROGRESS    IN    STUDIES.  [1830. 

of  Metaphysics ;  upon  which  I  have  already  entered.  My  historical 
reading  will,  of  course,  be  chiefly  in  the  Ecclesiastical  department;  but 
I  have  determined  to  embrace  this  opportunity  of  laying  a  firm  general 
foundation.  This  I  shall  do  by  reading  the  best  original  historical 
authorities  in  the  languages  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  I  shall  avoid 
compilers  and  second-hand  retailers.  Content  adire  integros  fontes. 
My  object  is  to  survey  for  myself  the  raw  stuff — the  material  from 
which  historiographers  have  wrought  their  patch-work.  I  shall  begin 
with  the  historical  books  of  the  Bible,  and  then  probably  proceed  to 
Herodotus.     Further  I  have  not  yet  looked  ahead." 

The  following  statement  will  show  what  progress  he  had 
already  made  in  these  departments,  and  what  his  scheme  was 
for  the  future.  In  Biblical  criticism  he  had  begun  the  gospel 
of  Matthew  in  Greek ;  pursuing  the  method  of  thorough-going 
analysis — sifting  every  syllable  and  letter,  and  not  even  for- 
getting the  accents.  He  had  also  begun  the  Epistle  to  the 
Galatians,  of  which  he  declares  his  intention  to  read  it  over 
and  over  again  ;  first  repeatedly  in  Greek,  with  critical  care, 
but  not  with  such  minute  regard  to  grammatical  niceties  as  in 
the  other  exercise ;  then  in  all  the  versions  that  he  finds  acces- 
sible, comparing  the  best  commentators.  "When  he  should 
think  himself  well  grounded  in  Galatians,  he  proposed  to  go 
on  to  Ephesians.  He  had  thus  finished  the  first  chapter, 
making  use  of  "Robert  Stephens's  magnificent  edition,"  and 
comparing  the  text  with  that  of  Griesbach.  His  lexicons  at 
this  time  were  Bretschneider's  (Leip.  1829),  and  Robinson's 
translation  of  "Wahl.  He  had  also  been  revising  Gesenius's 
grammar,  preparatory  to  a  course  of  critical  reading  in  Hebrew. 
The  plan  he  had  thought  of,  was  to  take  some  short  book  and 
proceed  inch  by  inch  as  he  had  done  in  Matthew.  He  should 
also  be  reading  the  historical  books  pari  passu;  but  with  more 
freedom.  He  was  to  use  Kennicott's  and  Vanderhooght's  edi- 
tions and  Gesenius's  Hebrew-German  Lexicon. 

In  metaphysics,  he  had  read  within  a  month,  Beattie  on 
Truth ;  Buffier's  First  Truths ;  the  fourth  book  of  Locke's 
Essays ;  the  first  book  of  the  Novum  Organum ;  Des  Cartes's 
Meditations  and  the   first  book   of  his  Principia  ;    Ilobbes's 


^t.21.]  SUBJECTS   OF   STUDY.  245 

treatise  on  Human  Nature;  and  Reid's  Enquiry  into  the 
Human  Mind.  The  last  he  had  finished  two  days  before,  and 
was  to  attack  Reid's  Essays  next. 

In  history,  he  had  begun  Genesis  in  Hebrew,  merely  as  an 
exercise  in  historical  literature.  I  find  that  he  was  readme:  it 
in  Kennicott  without  the  points,  which  he  discovered  was  a 
very  pleasant  method  in  his  unfettered  excursions.  For  pur- 
poses of  critical  analysis  he  of  course  used  the  pointed  text. 
He  had  this  day  finished  the  twenty-sixth  chapter. 

To  metaphysics  and  theology,  he  was  now  devoting  four 
days,  viz. :  Monday,  Wednesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday,  or 
to  speak  more  strictly,  the  best  part  of  four  days,  from  four  to 
six  hours  each.  To  history  he  devoted  Tuesday,  and  a  little 
additional  time  on  every  other  day — "  say  enough  to  read  one 
chapter."  Friday  he  gave  up  to  the  study  of  books  on  Bibli- 
cal criticism.  His  critical  reading  in  Hebrew  and  Greek  was 
continued  daily  and  revised  on  Friday.  His  chart  also  inclu- 
ded a  plan  for  amusement ;  nor  did  he  suffer  his  literary  tasks 
to  crowd  out  his  religious  meditations. 

"  Besides  these  subjects  of  systematic  study,  I  shall  indulge  myself 
moderately  in  lighter  reading  as  a  relaxation.  For  the  present  this 
shall  consist  in  a  partial  survey  of  European  periodical  literature,  he- 
ginning  with  the  Monthly  Review  for  1758.  I  shall  read  no  news- 
papers (regularly)  except  the  Boston  Recorder  (a  weekly  religious 
paper),  which  I  expect  to  take.  As  I  know  by  experience  the  impor- 
tance of  distributing  my  time  exactly,  I  have  adopted  the  following 
scheme  to  serve  till  I  form  a  better. 

"  1.  My  leisure  time  in  the  study  hours  of  College,  both  before  and 
after  dinner  ;  i.  e.  between  nine  and  twelve  in  the  forenoon,  and  two 
and  five  in  the  afternoon ;  I  shall  devote  to  the  leading  subjects  of  the  day. 

"  2.  The  part  of  an  hour  after  breakfast  and  dinner  before  study 
hours  begin,  I  shall  occupy  with  my  critical  reading  of  Greek  and 
Hebrew. 

"  3.     From  eight  to  nine  p.  m.  shall  be  sacred  to  devotion. 

"  4.  The  time  before  breakfast,  between  twelve  m.  and  dinner,  and 
between  evening  prayers  and  eight  o'clock,  are  not  appropriated  above. 
The  mode  of  spending  this  time  will  depend  on  circumstances.     Some- 


246  PURSUING   HEBREW.  [1830. 

times  I  shall  be  in  at  these  hours;  sometimes  not.  During  one  of  these 
internals  I  must  attend  daily  to  my  more  cursory  reading  in  Greek  and 
Hebrew. 

"The  Sabbath  is  not  included  in  the  foregoing  arrangements.  My 
reading  on  that  day  must  be  confined  to  the  Scriptures  and  practical 
divinity." 

Here  is  a  picture  of  the  young  scholar  among  his  text- 
books. We  can  almost  hear  him  muttering:  over  the  odd- 
looking  pages  of  his  great  open  volumes. 

"  Dec.  23.  This  is  my  Hebrew  day.  My  object,  at  present,  is  to 
obtain  as  accurate  a  knowledge  as  I  can,  of  the  lexiography  and  gram- 
mar of  both  languages.  I  choose  a  passage  therefore,  merely  to  serve 
as  a  text,  and  go  over  it  twice.  In  Hebrew  I  do  this  first  in  Kennicott, 
without  the  points,  looking  for  every  word  in  Gesenius's  lexicon,  and 
reading  the  whole  article  upon  it  carefully.  This  is  my  way  of  studying 
the  passage  lexicographically.  I  then  take  the  pointed  text,  and  analyze 
it  most  minutely,  reading  at  large  every  article  in  Gesenius's  Elemen- 
tarbuch  which  has  a  bearing  upon  the  subject.  By  pursuing  this  plan 
I  shall  soon  have  read  a  large  proportion  of  the  lexicon,  and  grounded 
myself  pretty  completely  in  the  grammar.  In  tliis  sort  of  study,  the 
grammar  and  lexicon  are  the  real  objects  of  attention  ;  the  Hebrew 
passage  only  serving  as  an  index  to  the  parts  to  be  consulted.  In 
another  branch  I  shall  make  the  exegesis  of  the  passage  my  chief  aim. 
Even  in  the  former  mode,  however,  I  shall  be  slowly,  but  surely  gain- 
ing a  thorough  knowledge  of  some  parts  of  the  Bible." 

The  boldness  of  the  attempt  to  master  the  entire  Hebrew 
dictionary  in  one  course  of  study,  does  not  seem  to  have 
once  occurred  to  him.  With  him  to  resolve  was  to  do  ;  unless 
his  mind  was  suddenly  diverted  to  something  else,  or  he  lost 
interest  in  his  labours.  In  the  present  case  neither  of  these 
events  happened.  He  was  at  this  time  not  near  so  stout  as  at 
a  later  period,  and  was  remarkably  good-looking,  with  short, 
dark  brown  hair,  and  a  clear, fresh,  florid  complexion.  His  fine 
blue  eyes  twinkled  through  a  pair  of  strong  near-sighted 
glasses.  His  face  was  clean-shaven,  and  he  was  exquisitely 
neat  in  his  person,  dress,  and  habits.  A  lady  who  saw  him 
for  the  first  time  in  June  of  this  year  tells  me  that  he  was 


^Et.21.]  LEADING   CHARACTERISTICS.  247 

very  retiring,  but  very  kind  and  pleasant.  To  her  he  was  all 
that  was  cordial  and  agreeable,  and  she  should  never  have 
dreamed  that  he  was  in  any  important  respect  different  from 
other  people.  No  one  saw  much  of  him,  for  he  was  buried 
among  his  books  at  Mr.  Patton's  school.  His  devotion  to  his 
mother  was  unbounded.  During  his  illness  he  was  observed 
again  and  again  to  turn  his  head  and  look  up  in  her  face  with 
glances  of  wistful  love  and  pleasure.  His  admiration  for  her 
understanding,  and  the  winning  charm  of  her  society,  was 
almost  as  great  as  his  affection  for  her  person. 

The  uniformity  of  testimony  as  to  his  leading  character- 
istics at  this  period,  leaves  no  doubt  as  to  what  they  were. 

"  From  my  boyhood,"  writes  one  who  has  travelled  far  and  met 
Avith  a  variety  of  men,*  "I  had  been  accustomed  to  hear  of  Addison 
Alexander  through  a  relation  of  his  who  was  married  to  one  of  my 
brothers,  and  who  having  spent  some  years  in  Dr.  Alexander's  family 
had,  of  course,  enjoyed  the  most  favourable  opportunities  for  an  inti- 
mate acquaintance  with  his  son  Addison.  The  minute  details  thus 
given  me  of  his  manner  of  life  and  his  various  sayings  and  doings 
greatly  impressed  me,  and  excited  a  strong  desire  to  see  him." 

This  was  before  he  became  known  to  the  public,  but  even 
then  this  writer  had  learned  to  look  upon  him  as  an  intellectual 
prodigy. 

"  My  personal  acquaintance  with  him  was  made  on  my  going  to 
Princeton  as  a  student  of  the  college,  in  which  he  then  held  the  place 
of  adjunct  Professor  of  Languages.  He  had  previously  been  carrying  on 
a  correspondence  with  my  brother  George  to  induce  him  to  accept  a 
tutorship  in  the  college  during  his  course  in  the  Theological  Seminary 
which  he  was  about  to  enter ;  and  as  I  accompanied  my  brother  to 
Princeton,  this  circumstance  immediately  brought  me  into  contact  with 
Mr.  Alexander." 

ne  found  him  affable  and  kind,  unassuming  and  apparently 
much  like  any  other  educated  and  pleasant  gentleman. 

*  The  Rev.  John  Leyburn,  D.  D.,  of  Baltimore,  but  for  many  years  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  at  one  time  one  of  the  editors  of  the  Presbyterian. 


248  IN   THE    CLASS.  [1830. 

Subsequently  he  was  himself  a  member  of  one  of  his  classes 
in  college,  and  was  smitten  with  the  general  admiration  for 
his  teacher. 

"The  students  among  themselves  always  called  him  'Addy,'  but 
they  never  ventured  on  familiarity  with  him.  His  extraordinary 
mental  gifts  and  wonderful  scholarship  were  perfectly  understood  and 
commanded  their  respect,  while  his  prompt  and  decided  manner  in  the 
recitation-room  showed  that  he  was  not  to  be  trifled  with.  He  had 
but  little  patience  at  this  time  with  the  indolent  and  negligent,  aud 
sometimes  cut  them  up  with  sharp  words." 

Occasionally  too,  it  struck  him  that  Mr.  Alexander's  own 
gifted  and  luminous  mind  had  elevated  him  so  far  above 
the  common  range  of  intellect  as  to  some  extent  to  incapaci- 
tate him  from  appreciating  the  difficulties  of  a  naturally  dull 
student. 

"  One  in  our  class  of  this  description  he  used  to  be  quite  hard  upon. 
He  would  allow  him  to  flounder  along  through  the  lengthy  and  com- 
plicated sentences  of  Cicero,  making  the  most  hideous  blunders;  the 
Professor  never  correcting  them,  but  once  in  a  while  casting  a  glance 
of  mingled  astonishment  and  displeasure  at  the  poor  fellow ;  until  hav- 
ing completed  his  tissue  of  incomprehensible  nonsense,  the  latter  came 

to  a  pause.    '  Now  Mr. ,'  the  Professor  would  say,  '  what  do  you 

understand  by  that!'1  The  tone  in  which  the  question  was  put,  in  con- 
nexion  with  the  exhibition  just  made,  rendered  the  thing  so  ludicrous 
as  to  call  forth  a  general  titter.'' 

A  year  or  two  after  the  graduation  of  the  Rev.  George  W, 
Leyburn  of  "Virginia,  it  was  proposed  to  him  to  take  a 
tutorship  in  the  college,  and  Professor  Addison  Alexander,  as 
a  member  of  the  faculty,  conducted  the  correspondence  with 
him.  While,  for  the  next  year  01*  two,  as  tutor  and  as  a  stu- 
dent of  the  seminary,  Mr.  Leyburn  was  again  at  Princeton,  he 
and  Mr.  Alexander  exchanged  occasional  visits,  and  the  former 
has  never  ceased  to  regret  that  he  did  not  more  fully  improve 
the  opportunity  he  then  enjoyed  of  cultivating  acopuaintance 
and  intercourse  with  a  man  whom  he  "  so  much  admired,  as 
one  of  the  greatest  geniuses  of  our  own  or  any  age.     But, 


Mr.  21.2  MR.    GEORGE    LEYBURN.  249 

though  I  believe  his  condescension  would  have  encouraged  it, 
my  own  diffidence  as  to  seeking  such  a  privilege,  and  my 
absorption  in  the  studies  of  the  seminary  course,  too  much  re- 
strained me." 

That  was  really  the  period  at  which  the  writer  of  these 
reminiscences  saw  most  of  him.  But  that  part  of  his  life  was 
spent  in  the  quiet,  unconspicuous  walks  of  his  college  subpro- 
fessorship.  Nothing  of  a  striking  character  in  regard  to  it, 
presents  itself  to  the  memory  of  the  survivor. 

"  He  was  then  pious,  though  not  a  minister,"  and  was  some- 
times at  faculty  meetings  called  upon  to  make  an  opening  or 
closing  prayer;  and  scarcely  any  thing  in  regard  to  him,  during 
that  period,  impressed  the  young  tutor  more  than  the  rich  and 
easy  flow  of  thought  and  diction,  which  marked  those  prayers. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  Dr.  Burrowes  bears  the  same  tes- 
timony. 

Mr.  Leyburn  then  goes  on  to  say  that  to  the  eye — his  eye, 
at  least — the  two  brothers  were  men  of  quite  different  appear- 
ance: 

"  The  one  being  a  man  of  pale,  pensive  face  of  oval  shape,  the 
other  having  a  fair  complexion  and  a  rotundity  of  face  and  person 
which  made  me  think  of  the  phlegmatic  German  students,  according  at 
least  to  my  idea  of  them,  who  fatten  upon  study.  I  once  thought  of 
Professor  Addison  Alexander  as  one  who  could  almost  do  the  same,  a 
real  salamander  as  to  the  capability  of  endurance  in  this  respect." 

But  on  his  renewing  his  acquaintance  with  him  on  his 
second  sojourn  in  Princeton,  Mr.  Alexander  expressed  to  him 
the  opinion  that  no  man  of  sedentary  habits  could  do  without 
seasons  of  relaxation,  and  told  him  that  he  had  himself  suf- 
fered in  health  from  too  great  confinement  and  labour  in 
study,  during  the  time  he  was  at  Mr.  Patton's.  He  appeared 
to  allude  especially  to  the  severe  work  he  had  had  in  getting 
ready  the  edition  of  Donnegan. 

"But,"  continues  Mr.  Leyburn,  "though  dissimilar  in  some  things 
of  the  outer  man,  the  two  brothers  were  much  alike  in  others :  in 
that  musical  tone  of  their  voices,  their  eminently  high  and  varied  cul- 
11* 


250  ARTICLES    WRITTEN.  [1830. 

ture,  and  the  remarkable  fecundity  of  thought  and  flow  of  correct 
and  elegant  language  which  made  them  such  attractive  and  even 
fascinating  men  to  those  who  listeued  to  them  publicly  or  privately  or 
read  the  rich  productions  of  their  pens. 

"  They  were  to  me,  I  believe,  the  two  men  who  of  all  that  I  have 
ever  actually  known,  threw  over  me  the  spell  of  an  admiration 
amounting  to  a  kind  of  charm  ;  and  I  think  of  them  with  a  peculiar 
sadness,  oft-times,  as  taken  away  just  in  the  glowing  ripeness  of  those 
high  powers  and  graceful  accomplishments  which  clustered  so  ric'.ily 
about  both  of  them.  '  "Was  it,'  I  sometimes  ask  myself,  '  in  their 
cases  the  realization  of  the  idea  of  an  early,  rapid,  and  astonishingly 
beautiful  efflorescence,  to  be  followed  by  a  correspondingly  early  and 
what  would  seem  to  us  premature  decay  and  dropping  of  the  leaf?' 
But  I  felt  as  if  the  whole  church  of  God,  this  western  continent  that 
gave  them  birth,  and  this  generation  at  large,  had  to  mourn  the  death 
of  the  two  Alexanders." 

Mr.  Alexander  wrote  but  two  articles  for  the  Repertory 
this  year ;  for  the  July  number,  a  Review  of  Guerike's  Life* 
of  "  August  Hermann  Francke  ;  "  and  for  the  October  number, 
a  most  lively,  racy,  entertaining,  and  skiliul  showing  up  of 
Madden's  "  Travels  in  Turkey,  Egypt,  JSTubia,  and  Palestine  in 
1S24, 1825,  1S26,  and  1827."  The  article  on  Francke  is  mainly 
biographical,  and  is  bright  and  vivid  in  its  character. 

Among  the  students  of  this  time  was  Parke  Godwin,  Esq., 
of  Xew  York,  the  well  known  editor  and  historian.  He  has 
politely  furnished  me  with  the  following  recollections  of  his  old 
teacher,  who  at  the  period  referred  to  was  in  years  barely  a 
man.      Mr.   Godwin  writes   that   the  impression  which  the 

*The  following  is  a  list  of  his  contributions  to  the  Philadelphia  <;  Morning 
Journal"  in  1830: 

"  I  cannot  positively  in  every  case  distinguish  them  from  J.  W.  A.'s,  but 
am  pretty  confident  of  the  following. — J.  II." 

Jan.  15.     "  Carsten  Xiebuhr." 
"      16.     Several  literary  paragraphs. 

Feb.  24.     "  The  Child  of  Mystery,  translated  from  a  Persian  MS." 
"     27.     Literary  paragraphs. 

March  31.     A  humorous  letter  for  an  ambitious  author. 

April  14.     "  Arabic  Anecdotes,  translated  from  the  original." 


Mr.  21.]  PARKE    GODWIN,  ESQ.  251 

young  professor  made  upon  him  is  still  very  distinct.  It  will 
be  found  that  Mr.  Godwin's  ideas  as  to  the  attainments  of 
his  youthful  instructor  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  of 
others  who  were  better  acquainted  with  him. 

"I  shall  never  forget  the  abruptness  as  well  as  the  sagacity  of  the 
first  remark  he  made  to  our  class,  during  the  Sophomore  year.'  '  Young 
gentlemen,'  he  said,  in  a  quick  but  positive  way,  '  all  knowledge  is 
pleasant'  He  then  stopped,  for  a  moment  that  we  might  digest  the 
truth.  'All  knowledge  is  pleasant,' he  resumed:  'and  I  shall  there- 
fore take  it  for  granted,  when  I  hear  that  any  one  does  not  like  any 
particular  study,  that  he  does  not  know  any  thing  about  it.'  That  was 
about  the  whole  of  his  address,  and  you  may  infer  from  it  that  he  re- 
ceived few  complaints  from  us,  during  his  incumbency  at  least. 
"Addy"  as  we  called  him  familiarly,  was  held  in  the  profoundest 
respect  by  all  the  students ;  and  for  two  reasons:  the  first  w as,  that 
nobody  ever  saw  him,  except  in  the  class;  and  the  second,  that  we 
imputed  to  him  a  marvellous  amount  of  human  knowledge  of  all  sorts. 
He  was  supposed  to  study  about  eighteen  hours  a  day,  adding  to  his 
already  prodigious  acquirements ;  and  these  acquirements  were  com- 
puted at  no  less  than  thirteen  different  languages,  and  all  the  then 
known  Natural  Sciences.*  You  may  imagine  that  we  always  ap- 
proached him  with  a  feeling  of  awe  and  veneration. 

"I  found  afterwards  that  these  popular  estimates  of  the  students' 
halls  were  scarcely  exaggerated;  he  was  a  marvel  of  erudition;  his 
learning  was  no  less  accurate  than  comprehensive ;  he  seemed  to  find 
no  difficulty  in  mastering  any  tongue  or  any  science  ;  and.  what  was 
better  than  this  mere  facility  of  accumulation  was  the  thoroughness 
with  which  he  assimilated  his  omnivorous  gatherings.  It  could  not 
be  said  of  him,  what  Robert  Hall  said  of  Dr.  Kippis,  that  '  he  had  so 
many  books  on  his  head  that  his  brains  couldn't  move.'  His  brains 
did  move,  and  moved  to  great  effect.  "When  he  either  wrote  or  spoke, 
his  matter  was  original,  well-considered,  apt,  and  vivacious.  You 
wondered  alike  at  its  fulness,  its  fluency,  and  its  fervour.  His  lectures 
and  sermons  were  models  of  chaste  and  elegant  composition,  as  well 
as  of  a  complete  mastery  of  the  subject.  He  was  not  eloquent  in  the 
sense  that  his  brother  James  "Waddel  Alexander  Avas,  but  he  was 
always  instructive,  elevating  and  moving;   and  no  student  willingly 

*  It  is  due  to  truth  to  say  that  Mr.  Alexander's  knowledge  of  the  natural 
sciences  was  but  slight. 


252  STUDIES    OF    THE    YEAR.  [1830. 

staid  away  from  chapel  when  it  was  given  out  that  he  was  ahout  to 
occupy  the  pulpit." 

Of  his  personal  traits  Mr.  G.  can  give  no  account.  The 
professor  was  always  hard  at  work,  and  was  as  shy  as  a  fawn. 

"  He  was  then  so  close  a  student  that  none  but  the  members  of  his 
family  saw  much  of  him,  and  when  a  chance  encounter  brought  you 
into  Ins  presence  he  was  generally  very  shy  and  reserved.  It  was  the 
ambition  of  all  of  us  to  become  intimate  with  him :  but  we  were  not 
permitted  the  opportunity.  I  regret  that  I  cannot  furnish  you  other 
particulars,  as  I  have  never  ceased  to  love  and  admire  the  man,  as  one 
of  the  noblest  and  most  gifted  of  our  fellow  countrymen." 

The  plan  of  study  indicated  in  the  foregoing  journal  of 
1830,  Mr.  Alexander  carried  out  faithfully  during  the  year 
1831  ;  and  his  diary  consists  of  nothing  "but  a  view  of  his 
daily  employment  under  this  rigid  scheme.  The  following 
list  embraces  most  of  the  works  upon  which  he  was  engaged : 
in  psychology  and  kindred  sciences,  Reid's  Essays,  Brown's 
Lectures,  Stewart's  Elements,  Payne's  Elements,  and  Ed- 
wards on  the  "Will ;  in  Persian,  Bakhtyarnameh  ;*  in  German, 
Gesenius's  Handbuch,  Gesenius's  History  of  the  Hebrew  Lan- 
guage, and  a  large  part  of  Conversations  Lexicon  ;  in  the  an- 
cient languages,  Thucydides,  Herodotus,  parts  of  Plato,  parts 
of  Demosthenes,  and  parts  of  Aristophanes,  besides  many  pages 
of  the  Latin  classics;  in  Biblical  criticism  and  theology,  Wet- 
stein's  Prolegomena,  and  New  Testament  in  Greek ;  parts 
of  Schramm's  Analysis  Patrum,  Stillingfleet's  Origines  Sacrae, 
Kennicott's  Disertatio  Generalis,  Pictet,  Herbert  Marsh's  Lec- 
tures, Watson's  Institutes,  and  Turretin  ;  in  history  and  upon 
miscellaneous  topics,  Dunlop's  History  of  Roman  Literature, 
various  works  on  the  History  of  India,  the  Xew  Monthly 
Magazine,  and  the  Boston  Recorder;  besides  whatever  fell 
into  his  hands  during  his  idle  moments,  if  any  of  his  mo- 
ments could  be  so  called.     He  was  moreover  a   faithful  at- 

*  Or  the  story  of  Prince  Bakhtyarnameh  and  the  ten  viziers. 


Mr.  21.]  TURKISH    LANGUAGE.  253 

tend  ant  upon  his  father's  lectures  on  metaphysics,  which  were 
delivered  to  one  of  the  classes  in  the  Seminary. 

In  addition  to  all  this,  he  continued  his  study  of  Portu- 
guese and  Danish,  and  commenced  the  study  of  Turkish. 
This  last  item  is  gathered  from  the  following  record : 

"  October  22.  —  Began  to  study  Turkish  in  an  old  Grammaire 
Turque,  which  may  be  regarded  as  a  typographical  curiosity;  as  it 
was  printed  a  hundred  years  ago  in  Constantinople.  I  have  examined 
it  before,  but  never  studied  it  with  care.  I  went  to-day  through  the 
chapter  on  adjectives;  the  language  appears  to  be  remarkably  free 
from  grammatical  anomalies." 

And  on  the  25th  : 

"  Learned  the  personal,  possessive,  and  relative  pronouns,  the  car- 
dinal, ordinal,  and  distributive  numerals  in  Turkish.  I  think  this  lan- 
guage more  remarkable,  so  far  as  I  am  yet  acquainted  with  it,  for 
regularity  than  any  other  which  I  have  attempted.*  It  takes  precedence 
of  the  Persian,  quoad  hoc,  because  the  latter  is  remarkable  for  paucity 
of  changes  and  inflections,  whereas  Turkish  has  a  multitude,  e.  g.  five 
cases  of  nouns  distinctly  marked.  I  shall  wait,  however,  till  I  enter 
on  the  verb,  before  I  pass  judgment." 

The  common  opinion  was  then  and  still  is,  that  he  not 
only  had  a  dislike  for  metaphysical  reasoning,  but  was  wholly 
unacquainted  with  what  had  been  done  in  this  department.  It 
will  be  seen  from  the  extract  which  follows,  as  is  evident  from 
the  many  like  it,  that  this  opinion  was  erroneous.  He  was 
well  read  in  the  writings  of  the  English  and  Scotch  schools, 
and  though  he  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  satirizing  the 
German  idealists,  few  persons  were  better  informed  as  to 
their  names  and  the  nature  of  their  speculations;  and  no  one, 
unless  Henry  Rogers,  has  given  us  a  better  parody  of  theirf 
manner  than  he  has  done  in  the  "  Diagnosis  of  the  I  and  the 
Not-I,"  in  the  Princeton  Magazine,  J  or  has  made  them  the 

*  See  MaxHiiller  Sc.  Lang.  First  Series,  pp.  108,  109.  Ch.  Scribner,  N. 
Y.,  1862. 

f  See  the  Grayson  Letters. 

\  "  '  Diagnosis  of  the  I  and  the  Not — I.' — Assuming  as  we  safely  may  that 
all  the  reflex  actings  of  the  rational  idea  towards  the  pole  of  semi-entity  are 


254  BURLESQUE    WRITING.  [1831. 

butt  of  a  more  intelligent  and  refined  ridicule,  than  he  has  done 
casually  in  his  Seminary  lectures,  and  his  review  articles,  as 
well  as  in  various  squibs  in  his  children's  books.  There  is 
a  trace  of  this  raillery  in  the  subjoined  burlesque  on  the  dis- 
proportionate zeal  with  which  writers  often  advocate  their 
hobbies. 

"PRIZE  ESSAY  UPON  NOTHING  * 

"The  apparent  incongruity  of  coming  forward,  at  the  present 
crisis,  when  the  minds  of  men  are  agitated  by  the  fear  of  fiscal  and 
political  convulsion,  with  a  systematic  treatise  upon  nothing,  will,  it  is 
fondly  hoped,  be  found  excusable,  on  a  deliberate  examination  of  the 
principles  maintained  and  the  practical  inferences  thence  deduced. 

CHAPTER  I. 

"  1.  Nothing  may  be  defined  not  any  thing. 

"2.  It  naturally  divides  itself  into  two  species,  positive  nothing, 
and  negative  nothing. 

"  3.  Positive  nothing  includes  every  thing  of  which  the  non-entity 
is  demonstrable. 

"4.  Negative  nothing  includes  everything,  of  which  the  non-entity 
may  be  presumed,  but  cannot  be  demonstrated. 

"  5.  The  principal  use  of  Nothing,  is  to  nullify  every  thing. 

"  6.  Nothing  may  be  converted  into  something,  by  abstracting  its 
non  -entity. 

naturally  complicated  with  a  tissue  of  non-negative  impressions,  which  can  only 
be  disintegrated  by  a  process  of  spontaneous  and  intuitive  abstraction,  it  in- 
evitably follows,  as  a  self-sustaining  corollary,  that  the  isolated  and  connatural 
conceptions,  formed  in  this  antespeeulative  stage  of  intellectual  activity,  must 
be  reflected  on  the  faculty  itself,  or,  to  speak  with  philosophical  precision,  on 
the  I,  when  viewed  concretely  as  the  Not-I ;  and  in  this  reciprocal  self-repro- 
duction, carried  on  by  the  direct  and  transverse  action  of  the  Renson  and  the 
Understanding,  modified  of  course  by  those  extraneous  and  illusory  percep- 
tions, which  can  never  be  entirely  excluded  from  the  mutual  relations  of  the 
pure  intelligence  on  the  one  hand  and  the  mixed  operations  of  the  will  and  the 
imagination  on  the  other,  may  be  detected,  even  by  an  infant  eye,  the  true 
solution  of  this  great  philosophical  enigma,  the  one  sole  self-developing  crite- 
rion of  the  elementary  difference  between  the  Not-I  and  the  I." — Princeton 
Magazine,  p.  35. 

*  From  Wistar's  Magazine. 


^Bt.21.]  METAPHYSICS.  255 

"  7.  Nobody  may  become  notbing  by  being  deprived  of  its  negative 
personality. 

"8.  Any  tbing  may  become  notbing,  by  annihilation.  The  only 
other  remark  wbich  I  propose  to  offer  on  this  interesting  and  important 
point  is — nothing." 

His  wonderful  powers  of  analysis  are  as  evident  in  some 
of  these  little  whimsical  effusions  which  he  poured  out  almost 
spontaneously,  as  in  his  serious  works.  His  mind  moved  as 
regularly  as  a  planet. 

His  opinion  as  to  the  relative  merits  of  two  of  the  most 
eminent  writers  in  this  department  may  be  gathered  from  the 
following  record : 

"Jan.  8.  Eead  cursorily  the  first  volume  of  Dugald  Stewart's 
Philosophy  of  the  Human  Mind.  I  read  this  book  once  before.  I 
liked  it  better  then  than  now.  He  seems  to  me  to  have  made  himself 
master  of  all  Dr.  Reid's  discoveries,  and  then  to  have  busied  him- 
self in  clothing  them  in  elegant  but  diffuse  expressions — just  differ- 
ing enough  from  his  exemplar  to  escape  the  charge  of  servile  plagia- 
rism. From  his  studied  attention  to  style  and  his  frequent  introduction 
of  historical  illustrations,  I  infer  that  he  was  more  of  a  rhetorician 
than  a  philosopher.  He  appears  to  care  more  for  the  way  in  which  he 
says  a  thing  than  for  what  he  says." 

His  adversaria  of  this  period  evince  the  same  shrewd,  crit- 
ical acquaintance  with  Reid  and  Brown,  and  the  same  dis- 
criminative appreciation  of  their  philosophical  labours.  The 
literary  merits  of  Stewart  and  Brown  could  not  escape  an  eye 
that  loved  to  wander  over  every  pleasing  territory  in  the 
domain  of  the  belles-lettres,  and  it  required  but  a  single 
glance  of  so  penetrating  an  intellect  to  discover  the  defect  in 
Brown's  Theory  of  Cause,  which  had  already  been  conclusively 
pointed  out  by  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  and  was  afterwards 
more  fully  exposed  by  Sir  William  Hamilton.  The  son  had 
probably  read  the  father's  article,  but  gives  his  own  indepen- 
dent impressions. 

Whatever  else  he  did,  or  failed  to  do,  he  at  no  time  neg- 
lected the  study  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  original  tongues. 


256  GRAMMATICAL    STUDIES.  [1831. 

Hebrew,  whether  with  or  without  points,  he  could  now  read 
and  write  with  somewhat  of  the  ease  of  his  vernacular.  On  the 
same  day  with  the  reference  to  Stewart,  there  is  the  following 
reminiscence  of  Mr.  Alexander's  early  Oriental  tastes,  which 
were  never  entirely  brought  into  subjection  to  his  later  views 
with  regard  to  the  Indo-European  tongues  in  general  and  the 
importance  of  the  Biblical  or  Hellenistic  Greek. 

"Eead  in  Hebrew  the  historical  parts  of  Exodus  xv,  and  the  whole 
of  chapters  xvi,  xvii.  Eead  a  number  of  articles  in  Gesenius's  lexicon. 
Eead  ten  pages  in  Bakktyar-Naineh  (Persian).  Eead  the  first  volume 
of  the  Mussulman,  a  novel  by  the  traveller,  Madden.  Interesting  from 
its  illustrations  of  Oriental  character  and  manners,  but  full  of  affecta- 
tion and  false  taste.  There  seems  to  be  a  covert  aim  at  satire  upon 
European  manners  running  through  the  work." 

The  subjoined  entries  explain  themselves,  and  show  very 
fully  what  he  was  doing  in  the  way  of  generous  excursion  into 
various  fields  of  knowledge. 

"  Feb.  3.  Continued  Payne's  Elements  of  Mental  Science.  Eead  a 
portion  of  Thucydides.  The  second  part  of  Matthiae's  Greek  Grammar 
(comprising  the  syntax)  contains  the  most  copious  collection  of  author- 
ities, I  suspect,  that  is  anywhere  extant.  The  index  of  the  passages 
cited  occupies,  of  itself,  above  200  pages.  I  think  of  reading  the  vol- 
ume and  analyzing  the  citations  as  I  go  along.  Eead  the  first  section 
in  this  way  to-day." 

The  discreet  estimate  here  given  of  the  great  work  of  Mat- 
thiae,  reveals  only  partially  the  thorough  way  in  which  Mr. 
Alexander  prosecuted  his  researches  in  this  and  every  other 
direction.  He  was  versed  also  in  such  authors  as  Winer, 
Kvihner,  TTahl,  Thiersch  and  Buttmann,  and  of  nearly  all  of 
the  English  and  American  compilations  which  he  thought  worth 
his  attention.  But  in  Greek  as  in  every  other  language  he 
had  his  own,  original,  unwritten  grammar  and  lexicon,  derived 
from  his  own  surprising  recollection  of  the  various  meanings 
and  relations  of  the  words,  phrases,  and  idioms  he  had  met 
with  in  reading.  There  is  no  one  but  has  been  struck  with  thi3 


Mr.  21.]  JOURNAL.  257 

in  perusing  his  "  Matthew  "  or  "  Mark,"  or  his  work  on  "  the 
Acts."  A  compendious  but  characteristic  lexicon,  as  well  as 
grammar,  of  the  Greek  language,  especially  in  its  Hellenistic 
form,  might  almost  be  constructed  out  of  the  hints  that  are 
thrown  out  in  these  three  books.  The  plan  of  mastering  the 
citations  as  well  as  the  text  of  Matthiae,  he  fully  accomplished. 
Sometimes  the  entries  in  his  diary  are  in  Greek,  sometimes 
Italian,  sometimes  French,  sometimes  in  Arabic  or  even  Per- 
sian. 

The  items  which  followed  enable  us  to  trace  him  through 
the  summer. 

"Aug.  8.  Read  in  Greek  Ps.  xxxviii-xliii.  Read  in  Greek  and 
English,  Ephesians  i.  Read  in  Greek  three  sections  in  the  Melpomene  of 
Herodotus.  Read  in  German  the  articles  "Englische  Poesie,"  "Engl. 
Theatre  "  and  part  of  the  article  "  Deutsche  Literatur"  in  Conversa- 
tions-Lexicon. Read  in  English  "Woodhridge's  account  of  the  mari- 
time divisions  of  the  earth.  Read  the  23d  chapter  of  Matthew  iu 
ancient  and  modern  Greek.  Read  the  first  chapter  of  John  in  Danish. 
"Wrote  three  pages  of  Valpy's  Greek  Exercises. 

"  Aug.  18.  Read  Psalms  xc-xeiv  in  the  Septuagint.  Read  Philip- 
pians  ii.  in  Greek  and  English.  Read  Matthew  xxvi  in  ancient  and 
modern  Greek.  Read  forty-nine  sections  in  the  Melpomene  of  Herod- 
otus. Read  the  hitter  half  of  the  Batrachoi  of  Aristophanes  in 
Kuster's  edition,  referring  to  his  Latin  version  and  Greek  scholia. 
This  play  is  truly  witty,  and  has  this  advantage  that  there  is  nothing 
immoral  or  indecent  in  the  plot,  and  very  little  in  the  language.  The 
satire  on  Euripides  is  very  amusing,  but  that  on  Bacchus  and  the 
heathen  mythology  still  better.  I  think,  with  a  little  expurgation  and 
exposition,  this  comedy  might  be  made  an  excellent  text-book." 

I  find  the  following  isolated  experimental  record. 

"June  5.  Read  a  considerable  part  of  Halyburton's  life  with 
avidity  and  astonishment.  I  seemed  to  be  reading  a  history  of  my 
own  life.  I  speak  within  bounds  when  I  s:iy  that  up  to  the  age  of 
twenty  his  spiritual  history  is  mine  in  almost  every  point.  Both  min- 
ister's sons,  and  both  ministers  of  the  same  communion — both  guarded, 
in  an  unusual  degree,  by  circumstances  from  exterior  temptation — both 
outwardly  exemplary,  inwardly  corrupt — both  led  to  seek  religion  by 
distress— both  tormented  with  the  fear  of  death  !     The  coincidence  is 


258  RELIGIOUS    EXPERIENCE.  [1831. 

truly  -wonderful.  The  account  of  his  vows  and  resolutions ;  his  fre- 
quent breaches  of  them ;  his  distress  in  consequence ;  his  subsequent 
resorts  and  shifts — I  might  transcribe  and  make  my  own.  I  was 
obliged  to  pause  sometimes  and  wonder  at  these  strange  coincidences; 
and  I  bless  God  that  the  book  fell  into  my  hands.  From  the  experience 
of  one  whose  early  history  was  so  much  like  my  own,  I  have  learned 
some  precious  lessons.  Some  enigmas  have  been  solved  ;  some  myste- 
ries of  iniquity  developed  ;  some  obstacles  removed  ;  some  useful  hints 
suggested.  On  one  head  particularly,  I  have  been  much  edified. 
Wiien  my  conscience  has  been  wounded  by  relapses  into  sin,  I  have 
always  been  tempted  to  sink  down  into  a  sullen  apathy,  or  else  to  wait 
a  day  or  two  before  approaching  God  airain.  It  has  seemed  to  me,  on 
such  occasions,  that  it  would  be  awfully  presumptuous  and  insolent 
to  ask  God  to  forgive  me  on  the  spot.  I  never  knew  why  I  thought  so 
until  Ilalyburton  told  me.  I  had  been  trusting  in  my  abstinence  from 
sin,  instead  of  Christ's  atonement,  so  that  when  surprised  and  van- 
quished, by  temptation,  I  felt  that  my  foundation  was  removed,  my 
righteousness  gone,  and  I  had  no  righteousness  wherewith  to  purchase 
favour.  It  pleased  God  this  afternoon  to  use  the  memoir  as  an  in- 
strument in  fixing  on  my  mind  a  strong  conviction  that  the  only  rea- 
sonable course  is  to  come  at  once,  and  ask  forgiveness  in  the  name  of 
Christ.  The  remarks  which  particularly  struck  me  as  conclusive  were 
these  three  : 

1.  After  an  act  of  known  transgression,  every  moment  that  I  spend 
without  applying  to  the  blood  of  Christ  I  spend  iu  sin ;  and  consequently 
aggravate  my  guilt. 

2.  It  was  my  folly  to  suppose  that  I  should  never  sin  again.  lie 
that  trusteth  to  his  own  heart  is  a  fool. 

3.  Abo  ve  all  I  seemed  to  have  received  new  light  upon  a  point 
which  I  never  before  thought  of  as  I  ought,  viz.  that  God's  chief  end 
in  dealing  with  men's  souls  is'not  to  discipline  them  nor  save  them; 
but  to  promote  his  own  glory.  Now  He  chooses  to  glorify  all  his  at- 
tributes together — His  mercy  as  well  as  His  justice.  To  distrust  the 
extent  of  His  forgiving  mercy  through  Christ  Jesus,  therefore,  is  an 
insult.  It  is  in  vain  that  the  sinner  talks  about  his  unworthiness  and 
the  greatness  of  his  sins.  Poor  wretch; — if  God  thought  of  your  ui» 
worthiness  you  might  well  despair ;  but  it  is  to  glorify  Himself  that  Ho 
invites  you  !  You  maybe  sure,  therefire,  that  He  will  receive  you. 
This  is  an  humbling  but  delightful  doctrine.  I  feel,  however,  the  ne- 
cessity of  guarding  against  an  antinomian  spirit.  Self-righteousne.ss 
and  antinomianism  are  my  Scylla  and  Charybdis." 


Mr.  22.]  THE    TWO   BROTHERS.  259 

At  the  close  of  a  letter  to  one  of  his  old  pastor's  sons,  a 
friend  *  thus  expresses  his  sense  of  obligation  to  the  Rev- 
erend James  W.  Alexander,  who  was  still  labouring  at  the 
State  capital : 

"  While  writing  this  there  have  been  constantly  running  in  my 
mind  remembrances  of  my  youthful  days,  blended  with  your  sainted 
father,  when  in  that  old  church  in  Trenton  with  its  lofty  galleries  and 
pulpit  perched  aloft  between  the  doors,  I  took,  in  the  depths  of  my 
soul,  impressions  from  his  then  peerless  preaching,  which  have  done 
so  much  towards  forming  my  literary  taste  and  moulding  my  religious 
life;  times  when  in  my  father's  gig  I  drove  him  to  some  neighbouring 
church  on  Saturday,  to  preach  on  the  Sabbath  and  return  on  Monday; 
and  with  what  hearty  pleasure,  he  would  have  me  stop  the  horse  that 
he  might  go  along  the  bauks  of  a  brook  to  gather  wild  flowers  and 
magnolias;  and  with  what  happiness  he  entered  into  the  beauties  of 
the  green  fields,  and  of  the  summer  works  of  that  God  whom  he  adored 
and  Saviour  whom  he  loved  so  well.  But  my  hand  is  weary  and  I  must 
pause." 

How  pleasing  it  would  be  to  be  able  to  give  a  record  of 
the  words  that  fell  from  the  lips  of  the  brothers  James  and 
Addison  in  conversation  !  This  is  of  course  impossible.  A 
few  sentences  of  it  has  been  preserved  in  letters  and  common- 
place books.  One  day  speaking  of  Watson  the  Methodist, 
whom  he  had  just  compared  to  Turretin,  the  younger  brother 
exclaimed  with  vivacity,  and  I  have  no  doubt  with  a  beaming 
countenance,  "  He  reasons  like  Paley  and  descants  like  Hall ! " 
To  this  opinion  his  auditor  heartily  subscribes.!  On  another 
occasion,  in  a  later  year  of  this  general  period,  the  talk  fell 
upon  childrens'  books  and  the  younger  scholar  said  to  his  de- 
lighted companion,  "  Don't  try  to  vary  the  Bible  language 
too  much ;  say  what  you  will  it  is  the  most  intelligible  to 
children.  Don't  try  too  much  to  improve  upon  the  Bible ;  let 
what  you  add  be  exegetical  and  brief."  He  went  on  then  to 
say  that  tC  a  thousand  books  may  yet  be  made  out  of  the  raw 

*  Dr.  Burrowes,  of  Easton. 
f  Fam.  Lett.     Vol.  I.,  p.  181. 


260  HIS    READING.  [1831. 

Bible  material,  with  very  little  alteration  of  the  text.  Thus 
one  may  take  all  that  relates  to  the  archaeology  of  the  Hebrew 
houses,  and  make  a  book  of  it ;  and  that  not  by  casting  the 
scriptural  parts  into  the  pigeon-boles  of  formal  artistical  ar- 
rangement, but  following  the  exact  order  of  the  scripture 
story.     Take  one  subject  and  chase  it  through  the  canon."  * 

His  thirst  for  knowledge  was  no  less  insatiable  than  when 
as  a  boy  he  devoured  strange  volumes  in  his  father's  garret. 
On  the  sixth  of  July  he  writes,  "  I  was  seized  to-day  with  a 
strong  desire  to  study  geography,  created  probably  by  the 
j)erusal  of  Kotzebue  and  Stewart's  voyages."  He  continued 
this  investigation  with  some  mental  entertainment  until  he 
had  finished  one  of  Woodbridge's  school  text-books.  He  was 
always  passionately  fond  of  books  of  travels.  "England's 
Forgotten  Worthies,"  Drake,  Raleigh,  and  the  other  early 
navigators,  were  as  fascinating  personages  to  him  in  his  rural 
solitude,  as  they  were  ever  to  Froude.  He  lived  largely,  as 
in  his  boyhood,  in  an  ideal  or  imaginary  world.  He  could 
summon  round  him  at  will,  the  famous  personages  of  ancient 
or  modern  history ;  the  men  and  women  of  the  Bible ;  the 
scenery  and  manners  of  the  East  or  of  the  West ;  the  fictitious 
actors  in  the  story  of  Cervantes,  in  the  dramas  of  Shakespeare, 
in  the  chivalrous  ballads  of  Firdusi,  in  the  glorious  poems 
of  Homer.  His  studies  all  ministered  to  the  purest  aesthetic 
as  well  as  to  higher  forms  of  intellectual  enjoyment. 

During  this  time  he  was  a  contributor  at  intervals  to 
Walsh's  National  Gazette  of  Philadelphia,  and  to  the  Prince- 
ton Courier,  a  weekly  newspaper.f  But  in  the  midst  of  all 
his  laborious  and  diversified  pursuits  he  saved  time  for  the 
most  heart-searching  exercises  in  his  closet.  He  gave  himself 
up  to  daily  communion  with  his  God.  He  might  neglect 
every  thing  else,  but  he  could  not  neglect  his  private  devotions. 
In  point  of  fact  he  neglected  nothing.  He  moved  as  by  clock- 
work.    The  cultivation  of  personal  piety,  in  the  light  of  the 

*  Fam.  Lett.    Vol.  I.,  p.  219. 

f  None  of  these  articles  is  in  the  Courier  known  to  be  extant. 


Mr.22.1  HE    LOVES    THE    BIBLE.  261 

inspired  word,  was  now  with  him  the  main  object  that  he  had 
in  life.  The  next  most  prominent  goal  that  he  set  before  him- 
self was  the  interpretation  of  the  original  scriptures ;  for  their 
own  sake,  and  for  the  benefit  of  a  rising  ministry,  as  well  as 
for  the  gratification  he  took  in  the  work.  The  Bible  was  to  him 
the  most  profoundly  interesting  book  in  the  world.  It  was  in 
his  eyes  not  merely  the  only  source  of  true  and  undented  reli- 
gion, but  also  the  very  paragon  among  all  remains  of  human 
genius.  He  knew  great  portions  of  it  by  heart.  He  was  now, 
or  afterwards  became,  a  consummate  master  of  every  one  of 
its  idioms,  of  the  wide  embrace  of  its  contents,  of  the  whole 
sweep  of  its  doctrine,  evidence,  history,  and  literature,  of  much 
of  the  broad  domain  of  exterior  but  kindred  science  and  belles- 
lettres,  of  the  innumei'able  manuscripts  and  versions,  of  the 
immense  field  of  patristic  comment  and  modern  hermeneutics 
and  criticism  ;  and  long  before  the  close  of  his  life,  he  had 
analyzed  every  book,  every  chapter,  every  paragraph,  every 
sentence,  every  word,  every  syllable,  every  letter,  of  which  an 
analysis  was  possible,  with  a  degree  of  minuteness,  precision, 
clearness,  originality,  force,  and  comprehensive  fulness,  and 
with  an  humble  childlike  reverence  for  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus, 
which,  as  exhibited  in  his  printed  volumes,  have  awakened 
the  respect  of  pious  scholars  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic, 
without  distinction  of  creed  or  rubric.  But  more  than  this : 
the  Bible  was  the  chief  object  of  his  personal  enthusiasm;  he 
was  fond  of  it ;  he  loved  it ;  he  was  proud  of  it ;  he  exulted  in 
it.  It  occupied  his  best  thoughts  by  day  and  by  night.  It 
was  his  meat  and  drink.  It  was  his  delectable  reward.  There 
were  times  when  he  might  say  with  the  Psalmist,  "  Mine  eyes 
prevent  the  night  watches  that  I  might  meditate  in  thy  word, 
I  have  rejoiced  in  the  way  of  thy  precepts  more  than  in  great 
riches."  He  succeeded  perfectly  in  communicating  this  de- 
lightful zeal  to  others.  His  pupils  all  concur  in  saying  that 
"  he  made  the  Bible  glorious  "  to  them. 

On  the  twenty-first  of  May  we  have  another  isolated  record 
of  his  religious  experience  : 


262  TEMPTATION.  [1831. 

"  I  have  been  grievously  tempted  to-day,  and  the  temptation  has 
not  left  me.  It  is  on  me  at  this  moment ;  I  take  refuge  in  the  act  of 
writing,  from  its  assaults.  Oh,  that  I  were  delivered  from  this  body 
•of  death ! 

How  strange  a  conflict !  between  a  man  and  himself!  How  strange 
the  coexistence  of  two  wills  in  one  person! — a  will  to  do  evil  and  a 
will  to  avoid  it. 

"When  I  look  forward  to  temptations  I  am  always  confident  of 
victory,  and  that  an  easy  one.  I  have  a  vague  idea  that  the  foe  to  be 
contended  with  is  something  extrinsic  to  myself,  and  feel  myself  in- 
terested, therefore,  in  resisting  unto  blood.  But  when  the  trial  comes 
and  I  find  arrayed  against  me  my  own  strongest  propensities  and  ten- 
derest  affections,  when  every  blow  aimed  at  the  tempter  rends  a  fibre 
of  my  heart — then  is  my  strengtli  indeed  found  perfect  weakness. 

"It  grieves  me,  too,  and  galls  me  to  discover  by  experience,  that 
the  strongest  deductions  of  my  reason  are  of  little  use  by  themselves 
in  the  moment  of  temptation.  During  an  interval  of  calm,  dispassion- 
ate reflection,  I  revolve  a  moral  question  in  my  mind.  I  weigh  all  the 
arguments  on  both  sides.  I  am  satisfied— entirely  satisfied  that  reason, 
conscience,  gratitude,  require  me,  una  voce,  to  do  this,  or  abstain  from 
that.  I  foolishly  imagine  that  with  such  convictions  I  can  never  be 
seduced  into  transgression.  A  strong  temptation  fastens  on  me — all 
my  fortified  conclusions  seem  to  vanish  into  air!  I  no  longer  seem  to 
be  a  rational  creature.  Instinct,  passion,  appetite,  appear  to  be  omnip- 
otent. I  may  remember  all  my  arguments,  but  I  no  longer  feel  their 
force.  "What  then  is  to  sustain  me?  The  grace  of  God  imparted  at 
the  moment  and  proportioned  to  the  exigency.  How  is  it  to  be  had? 
By  prayer  and  holy  living  through  the  Saviour's  intercession.  How 
shall  I  be  assured  of  having  it  in  season?  Trust — trust — trust  in  God. 
Remember  that  you  do  not  deserve  to  be  sustained  at  all ;  that  if  you 
are,  it  is  a  mere  favour.  What  assurance,  then,  is  wanting  but  a 
knowledge  of  God's  goodness  and  a  firm  faith  in  his  promises  ?  " 

He  does  not  seem  to  have  written  any  this  year  for  the 
Biblical  Repertory. 

The  year  1832  was  occupied  very  much  as  the  last,  Be- 
sides finishing,  or  continuing  the  perusal  of  the  works  already 
named,  but  not  fully  read,  he  addicted  himself  to  Home's  Intro- 
duction, Paley's  Natural  Theology ;  Paley's  Evidences  ;  Mur- 
doch's Mosheim  ;  Gesenius's  Einleitung  on  Isa. ;  Stuart  on  He- 


jCr.82.1  DAILY   READING.  263 

brews ;  Wolf's  Bibliotheca  Hebraica ;  Alexander  on  the  Can- 
on ;  Acts  of  the  Synod  of  Dort ;  Clarendon's  History  of  the 
Rebellion  ;  and  Milner's  Letters  on  the  Christian  Ministry.  He 
also  studied  Isaiah,  in  Hebrew,  Chaldce,  Syriac,  Greek,  Latin, 
English,  Arabic,  and  German,  with  Rosenmiiller's  and  Geseni- 
us's  and  Lowth's  notes  ;  the  Peshito,  and  the  Targum  of  Jon- 
athan ;  also  Campbell's  gospels  ;  Hugo  Einleitung ;  Bush  on 
Millennium,  etc. 

I  find  the  following  record: 


o 


"March  11.  At  the  conference  last  Lord's  Day,  my  father  urged 
upon  the  students  the  duty  of  storing  their  memory  with  Scripture. 
I  resolved,  by  way  of  experiment,  to  get  by  heart  a  portion  of  Scripture 
every  day,  both  in  English  and  the  original." 

In  pursuance  of  this  purpose,  during  this  year,  he  commit- 
ted the  whole  of  the  Psalms  in  Hebrew  and  English,  and  the 
first  few  verses  of  each  chapter  in  Isaiah ;  and  the  epistles  of 
Romans  and  Hebrews  in  Greek  and  English.  He  also  fastened 
in  his  memory  the  succession  of  events  in  the  gospels  of  Mat- 
thew, Mark  and  Luke,  so  as  to  be  able  to  give  an  analysis  of 
each  chapter  from  memory. 

He  had,  during  the  previous  year,  studied  critically,  almost 
the  whole  of  the  Bible  in  that  thorough  and  exhaustive  way 
proposed  in  his  plan  of  study.  This  work  he  now  completed. 
He  also  thoroughly  mastered  several  grammars  of  the  German, 
Syriac  and  Chaldee  languages.  During  most  of  this  time  he 
was  giving  instruction  to  two  classes  in  the  college  in  Greek ; 
writing  for  Walsh's  Review,  the  Biblical  Repertory,  and  the 
Presbyterian  ;  teaching  one  of  his  brothers  and  a  young  lady 
German  and  French,  and  reading  the  English  poets  with 
them ;  besides  reading  English  reviews,  many  treatises  on 
various  subjects,  and  portions  of  many  books,  great  and 
small,  not  enumerated  above. 

"Peixcetox,  July  81,  1832. 
"Dear  Sie, 

"  I  happened  to  hear,  not  long  ago,  that  you  were  editing  the 
S.  S.  J.pi-o  tempore.     The  thought  occurred  at  once,  that  this  arrange- 


264  LETTER   TO    MR.    HALL.  [1831. 

ment  might  be  rendered  permanent  with  great  advantage  to  the  institu- 
tion. I  was  not  aware,  at  that  time,  of  the  purpose  to  employ  another 
editor,  which  you  have  since  informed  me  of.  Your  letter  of  last  week 
affords  me  an  opportunity  of  meddling  in  the  matter,  which  I  do  at 
once  by  saying,  that  I  think  you  called  by  Providence  to  undertake  this 
business.  I  speak,  of  course,  in  deference  to  public  interests.  Those 
private  relations  and  considerations  which  may  bear  upon  the  case,  I 
know  nothing  about.  Looking  at  the  thing  from  the  Sunday  School 
side  only,  I  should  certainly  have  given  you  my  vote,  if  qualified,  even 
though  I  had  never  been  called  upon  to  do  it  by  way  of  repartee. 

"  I  do  not  deny,  that  arguments  suggest  themselves  in  favour  of  my 
doing  what  you  ask.  But  I  can  truly  say  that  there  is  not  one  of  them 
(I  mean  of  such  of  them  as  rest  upon  the  ground  of  public  utility)  which 
does  not  reach  you  just  as  fully  as  myself.  And  then  besides  these, 
there  are  others  which  apply  to  you  alone,  and  strongly  too.  Let  me 
mention  three  as  samples.  (1.)  You  have  experience  and  resources  as 
an  editor,  which  I  have  not.  (2.)  You  are  already  familiar  with  the 
entire  system,  or,  to  use  the  new  word,  '  cause  ' — of  Sunday  Schools. 
(3.)  You  would  not  be  forsaking  one  field  of  usefulness  to  rush,  perhaps 
at  no  small  hazard,  into  another.  That  many  things  in  the  life  of  an 
editor  would  please  me,  I  admit.  But  you  see  how  stoically  I  have  set 
aside  the  dulce  for  the  utile. 

"I  am  afraid  that  you  will  find  this  a  very  informal  and  unscientific 
answer  to  your  protocol.  Please  to  lay  the  blame  of  its  defects,  in  part 
upon  a  class  of  interesting  youth  who  are  awaiting  me,  and  in  part  upon 
my  own  procrastination,  which  has  left  your  favour  unacknowledged 
for  a  week.     With  true,  though  tardy  thanks  for  it,  I  now  stop  short. 

"  Yours,  truly, 

"  Addison  Alexander. 

"  J.  Hall,  Esq. 

"  On  stating  the  substance  of  the  above  to  James,  he  graciously  as- 
sented to  it.  He  desires  me  to  say  that  he  has  received  your  letter 
and  may  answer  it  (or  will — I  have  forgotten  which.)" 


CHAPTEK  VIII. 

During  the  year  1832,  Mr.  Alexander  contributed  no  less 
than  six  articles  to  the  Princeton  Quarterly,  viz.  one  on  Heng- 
stenberg's  Daniel,  one  on  Arabian  and  Persian  Lexicography, 
one  on  the  Historical  Statements  of  the  Koran,  one  on  Gibbs's 
Manual,  one  on  De  Sacy's  Arabic  Grammar,  and  one  on  Hebrew 
Grammar.  There  is  something  in  the  profusion  of  his  mind  at 
this  time  that  strikes  one  with  fresh  astonishment  and  admira- 
tion. His  efforts  of  this  period  are  equal  in  most  respects  to 
any  of  his  life.  His  continued  preference  of  Oriental  themes  to 
classical,  would  seem  to  show  that  whatever  might  be  the 
ripening  conclusions  of  his  judgment,  the  governing  bent  of  his 
inclinations  was  still  towards  the  tongues  that  are  spoken  in  the 
tents  of  Shem;  though  he  tells  us  that  he  was  now  becoming 
daily  more  and  more  enamoured  of  Greek,  and  soon  came  to 
rate  it  as  his  first  choice  among  all  his  studies.  This  was  so  at 
the  time  of  his  appointment  as  teacher  in  the  Seminary;  but  as 
he  says  himself,  he  was  already  somewhat  weaned  from  anato- 
lic  studies  as  early  as  1829,  when  under  the  guiding  influence  of 
Patton  he  began  to  explore  the  wonders  of  modern  German 
philology,  and  under  the  stimulus  of  new  and  better  grammars 
to  ground  himself  in  the  principles  of  profound  classical  schol- 
arship. The  years  intervening  between  his  residence  at  Edge- 
hill  and  his  first  European  voyage,  was  the  transition  period. 

At  the  time  these  articles  were  published  he  was  on  the 
point  of  casting  the  slough  of  his  Semitic  tastes  and  pro- 
clivities, and  to  wear  it  n,o  more  as  his  favourite  and  almost 
exclusive  vesture,  He  was  in  a  short  time  to  emerge  from  his 
youthful  chrysalis  apparelled  in  intellectual  garments  of  scarce- 
ly less  resplendent  richness.  He  was  (to  .modify  the  figure) 
about  to  clothe  himself  in  raiment  wrought  out  of  the  Indo- 
12 


266  ORIENTAL    PREFERENCES.  [1832. 

European  looms.  But  the  language  he  was  learning  more  and 
more  to  love  was  Greek.  It  was  to  become  almost  as  easy  to 
him  as  his  native  tongue.  It  was  l'or  it  he  was  to  give  up  his 
coat  of  many  colours  by  which  he  bad  been  distinguished  from 
his  brethren.  If  the  languages  of  the  East  (and  the  remark  is 
chiefly  applicable  to  the  Persian)*  in  their  variegated  splendour 
were  his  toga  prcetexta,  the  Greek  in  its  snow-white  purity 
may  be  said  to  have  been  his  toga  virilis,  which  still  however 
bore  its  fringe  of  anatolic  purple.  He  clung  to  the  Hebrew 
and  the  cognate  dialects,  and  to  the  Hellenistic  Greek,  with 
ever  growing  enthusiasm  and  unconquerable  affection. 

Perhaps  the  most  remarkable  of  these  contributions  is  the 
one  on  the  "  Historical  Statements  of  the  Koran,"  f  though 
the  one  on  "  De  Sacy's  Arabic  Grammar"  \  is  of  the  same  gen- 
eral character,  and  exhibits  the  same  sort  of  philological  and 
critical  ability ;  and,  besides  the  remarks  more  strictly  germane 
to  the  subject  of  De  Sacy's  volume,  is  distinguished  by  a  lu- 
minous exposition  of  the  relation  between  the  Arabic  and  the 
Hebrew.  The  article  on  "Hebrew  Grammar"  is  also  very 
learned  and  able,  discovering  a  thorough  acquaintance 
with  the  writings  of  Jahn,  Storr,  Buxtorf,  Gesenius,  Lee, 
Michaelis,  Hoffman,  and  Ewald.  The  article  on  "  Gibbs's 
Manual  Lexicon,"  is  a  short  but  appreciative  notice  of  the 
admirable  vade-mecum  put  forth  by  the  Yale  Professor,  for  the 
benefit  of  Hebrew  and  Chaldee  students,  in  the  year  1832. 

It  is  interesting  in  this  connection  to  note  the  fact  that  Mr. 
Alexander  was  afterwards  a  pupil  of  Gesenius  and  Nord- 
heimer,  and  a  bearer  of  despatches  between  De  Sacy  and 
Freytag. 

The  article  ou  "  Hengstenberg's  Vindication  of  the  Book 


*  I  am  aware  that  the  Persian,  though  written  in  Arabic  characters,  is  not 
one  of  the  Semitic  languages. 

f  Bib.  Rep.,  1832,  p.  195. 

%  Bib.  Rep.,  1832,  p.  543.  "  Grammaire  Arabe,  a  V usage  des  elevefi  de 
l'ecole  speciale  des  lamjues  orientales  vivantes  ;  avec  figures.  Par  M.  le  Baron 
Silvestre  de  Sacy,"  &c,  &c.    ,; Paris;  imprime  par  autorisation  du  Roi,"  &c. 


Mr.  2S.]  THE    KORAN.  2G7 

of  Daniel,"  *  is  equally  attractive  on  similar  as  well  as  on  very- 
different  grounds.  Mr.  Alexander,  as  we  shall  presently  see, 
was  afterwards  somewhat  intimately  associated  with  this 
Coryphaeus  of  Evangelical  criticism  in  Germany,  both  as  his 
pupil  and  friend.  He  probably  owed  moi'e  as  a  commentator 
to  Hengstenberg  than  to  any  other  man,  unless  it  was  Calvin. 
He  was  an  early  convert  to  the  outlines  of  Hengstenberg's 
Messianic  theory,  as  well  as  to  his  general  views  as  to  the 
structure  of  prophecy ;  and  though  he  discarded  many  of  his 
particular  opinions  and  interpretations,  believing  them  to  be  in 
some  instances  palpably  incorrect  and  in  others  mere  visionary 
crotchets ;  and  while  he  never  yielded  himself  up  to  the  slav- 
ish guidance  of  any  teacher ;  he  yet  held  this  great  scholar  in 
the  most  exalted  estimation,  for  his  learning,  his  bold  saga- 
city, his  strength  of  will  and  breadth  of  mind,  his  independence 
of  judgment,  vigour  of  logic,  soundness  of  view,  and  eminent 
piety.  His  own  work  on  the  Psalms  was  in  large  part  a  repro- 
duction in  another  form,  of  Hengstenberg's  ;  and  while  in  his 
"  Isaiah  "  he  often  mentions  the  great  German  only  to  differ 
from  him,  he  never  mentions  him  in  terms  that  are  inconsistent 
with  the  highest  respect  and  admiration. 

But  the  article  on  the  Koran  is  the  one  in  which  Mr.  Alex- 
ander seems  to  have  exerted  the  whole  force  of  his  mind,  and 
gives  what  is  possibly  the  best  coup  deceit  that  can  now  be 
had  of  the  grasp  and  reach  of  his  acquisitions  in  Arabic 
literature.  In  this  article  he  not  only  corrects  many  of  the 
numerous  blunders,  loose  translations,  and  wrong  translations, 
into  which  Sale  has  wittingly  or  unwittingly  fallen,  but  takes 
"the  Perspicuous  Book"  to  pieces  precisely  as  a  watch- 
maker takes  to  pieces  a  watch,  rearranging  and  systematizing 
the  historical  portions  of  the  volume  on  a  plan  of  his  own. 
It  must  have  been  a  gigantic  toil,  but  it  was  a  labour  of  love. 
The   same  faculty  of  minute   analysis  which  he  afterwards 

*Bib.  Rep.,  1832,  p.  48.  "Die  Authentic  des  Daniel  und  die  Integritaet 
des  Sacharjah,  Erwiesen  von  Ernst  Wilhelm  Hengstenberg,  Dr.  der  Phil,  und 
dcr  Theol.  der  letzt.  ord.  Prof.  Berlin,  1831,  8vo." 


268  MOHAMMEDANISM.  [1832. 

brought  to  bear  upon  the  gospels  of  Mark  and  Matthew,  is 
here  brought  to  bear  upon  certain  obscure  or  controverted 
passages  or*  the  Mussulman's  Bible. 

But  what  lends  a  popular  interest  to  the  article,  and  im- 
presses upon  it  a  strongly  distinctive  character,  is  the  fact 
that  it  also  exhibits  a  complete  view  of  Mohammedanism  and 
its  relation  to  Christianity,  and  makes  known  the  author's  own 
conceptions  of  the  great  deceiver  of  Islam.*  The  reader  will 
be  richly  rewarded  by  a  perusal  of  the  following  extracts  : 

"The  Mohammedan  religion  is,  in  some  respects,  the  most  re- 
markable of  all  false  religions.  The  specious  simplicity  of  its  essen- 
tial doctrines,  and  its  perfect  freedom  from  idolatry,  distinguish  it  for- 
ever from  the  gross  mythology  of  classical  and  oriental  paganism. 
But  besides  these  characteristics,  it  displays  a  third,  more  interesting 
still.  We  mean  the  peculiar  relation  which  it  bears  to  Christianity. 
Whether  it  happened  from  a  happy  accident  or  a  sagacious  policy,  we 
think  it  clear  that  Islam  owes  a  vast  proportion  of  its  success,  to  the 
fact  that  Mohammed  built  upon  another  man's  foundation.  Assuming 
the  correctness  of  the  common  doctrine  that  the  impostor  was  a  bril- 
liant genius,  though  a  worthless  libertine,  and  that  his  book  is  the  off- 
spring not  of  insane  stupidity  but  of  consummate  contrivance,  there 
certainly  is  ground  for  admiration  in  the  apparent  union  of  simplicity 
and  efficacy  in  the  whole  design.  The  single  idea  of  admitting  freely 
the  divine  legation  of  the  Hebrew  seers,  and  exhibiting  himself  as  the 
top-stone  of  the  Edifice,  the  Last  Great  Prophet,  and  the  Paraclete  of 
Christ,  has  certainly  the  aspect  of  a  master-stroke  of  policy.  Besides 
conciliating  multitudes  of  Jews  and  soi-disant  Christians  at  the  very 
first,  this  circumstance  has  aided  the  imposture  not  a  little  ever  since. 
It  relieves  the  Moslem  doctors  of  the  necessity  of  waging  war  against 
both  law  and  gospel."     *     *     * 

Every  discrepancy  is  at  once  conveniently  resolved  into 
corruption  in  the  text. 

*  It  is  interesting  to  compare  the  impressions  of  this  young  scholar,  im- 
pressions mainly  derived  either  from  admitted  facts  in  the  history  or  else  from 
the  naked  text  of  the  Koran,  with  the  results  of  modern  criticism  and  the  in- 
vestigations of  such  thorough -going  workmen  as  Mommsen.  A  very  striking 
view  of  these  results  is  embodied  in  an  article  entitled  "Mahomet"  in  the  Ed. 
Rev.  for  1866. 


Mr.  23.]  THE    FALSE    PROPHET.  2G9 

"  It  is  not  the  policy  of  Islam  to  array  itself  against  the  Jewish  and 
the  Christian  dispensations,  as  an  original  and  independent  sy.-tem ; 
hut  to  assume  the  same  position  in  relation  to  the  Gospel,  which  the 
Gospel  seems  to  hold  in  relation  to  the  Law — or  in  other  words,  to 
make  itself  the  grand  denouement  of  that  grand  scheme  of  which  the 
old  and  new  Testaments  were  only  the  preparatory  stages.  Indeed, 
if  we  were  fully  satisfied  that  the  Rasool  Allah  *  had  any  plan  at  all, 
we  should  he  disposed  to  account  for  it  in  this  way.  He  was  ac- 
quainted with  three  forms  of  religion,  Judaism,  Christianity,  and  Pa- 
ganism. Disgusted  with  the  latter,  he  was  led,  we  may  suppose,  to 
make  some  inquiries  into  the  points  of  difference  between  the  Jews 
and  Christians.  This  he  could  not  do  without  discovering  their  singular 
relations  to  each  other."  *  *  *  "  This  fact  might  very  readily  sug- 
gest the  project  of  a  new  dispensation — a  third  one  to  the  Christian, 
and  a  second  to  the  Jew.  The  impostor  would  thus  he  furnished  with 
an  argument  ad  hominem  to  stop  the  mouths  of  both.  To  the  Jews  he 
could  say,  Did  not  Moses  tell  your  fathers  that  a  prophet  should  rise  up 
in  the  latter  days,  greater  than  all  before  him?  I  am  he.  Do  you 
doubt  it?  Here  is  a  revelation  just  received  from  Gabriel.  Do  not  all 
your  sacred  books  predict  the  coming  of  a  great  deliverer,  a  conqueror, 
a  king?  I  am  he.  In  a  few  months  you  shall  see  me  at  the  head  of  a 
thousand  tribes  going  forth  to  the  conquest  of  the  world. 

"  If  this  was  the  ground  really  taken  at  first,  how  striking  must 
have  been  the  seeming  confirmation  of  these  bold  pretensions,  when 
Mohammed  and  his  successors  had  in  fact  subjected,  not  Arabia  only, 
but  Greece,  Persia,  Syria,  and.Egypt. 

"  To  the  objection  of  the  Christians,  that  the  line  of  prophets  was 
long  since  completed,  he  could  answer,  Did  not  Jesus  come  to  abrogate 
or  modify  the  law,  when  its  provisions  were  no  longer  suited  to  the 
state  of  things?  Even  so  come  I,  to  supersede  the  Gospel — not  to  dis- 
credit it  but  to  render  it  unnecessary,  by  a  more  extensive  and  authori- 
tative doctrine.  So  far  from  being  Antichrist  (as  some  no  doubt  ob- 
jected) I  am  the  very  comforter  whom  Jesus  promised. 

"  That  such  sophistry  might  easily  have  undermined  the  faith  of 
renegadoes  and  half-pagan  Christians,  is  certainly  conceivable.  Whether 
this  was  in  fact  the  course  adopted  in  the  infancy  of  Islam  will  admit 
of  a  doubt.  Be  that  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  the  Impostor 
considered  it  expedient  to  incorporate  the  leading  facts  of  Sacred  his- 

*  The  Apostle  of  God.     We  are  not  aware  that  Mohammed  ever  called  him- 
self a  prophet. — J.  A.  A. 


270  THE    PERSPICUOUS    BOOK.  [1832. 

tory  into  his  revelation,  so  far  as  they  were  known  to  him.  That  his 
knowledge  of  the  subject  was  imperfect,  need  not  excite  our  wonder. 
The  sources  which  probably  supplied  his  information,  could  scarcely  be 
expected  to  remit  a  purer  stream  than  that  which  irrigates  the  pages 
of  the  Perspicuous  Book." 

In  illustration  of  the  way  in  which  he  could  combine  learn- 
ing, exegesis,  irony,  keen  criticism,  wit,  humour,  sarcasm,  cau- 
tion, moderation,  strong  writing,  and  knock-down  argument, 
in  the  same  paragraph,  I  adduce  the  following  : 

"  One  thing  more  in  this  account  of  the  creation  may  deserve  our 
notice,  '  He  said  to  the  heaven  and  earth,  Come,  either  obediently  or 
against  your  will.'  This  was  obviously  intended  as  a  match  for  that 
inimitable  sentence  '  God  said,  Let  there  be  light  and  light  was.'  One 
can  hardly  help  smiling  at  the  Irish  sublimity  of  poor  Mohammed's 
masterpiece,  the  alternative  proposed  to  two  nonentities,  and  their 
sagacious  choice.  It  is  but  just,  however,  to  admit,  that  the  language 
may  be  considered  as  addressed  to  the  heavens  and  the  earth  after 
they  were  created ;  but  before  they  were  arranged  and  beautified." 

What  follows  sheds  a  new  lisdit  on  the  Arabian  tales  with 
which  we  have  all  been  familiar  from  our  childhood : 

"  The  Genii,  we  are  told  in  the  chapter  of  Al  Hejr  [c.  xv.]  were 
made  of  subtle  fire,  as  Sale  translates  it.  The  original  words  are  nar 
senium,  the  latter  term  properly  denoting  the  hot  wind  of  the  desert 
called  simoom  by  travellers.  There  is  something  poetical  in  this  idea, 
which  would  no  doubt  strike  the  fervid  fancy  of  a  Bedouin  with 
mighty  force." 

It  is  not  proposed  to  follow  out  the  writer  along  the 
various  ramifying  lines  of  this  intricate  but  often  alluring  in- 
ve>ti<ration.  The  concludinsc  words  of  this  article,  however, 
convey  such  ocular  proof  of  his  capacity  as  a  critic  and 
philologist,  and  as  a  writer  of  flexible  and  muscular  English, 
and  show  him  in  so  many  various  attitudes  and  lights,  that  it 
seems  proper  to  reanimate  them  from  the  dust  which  always 
envelopes  the  bound  volumes  of  anonymous  periodical  litera- 
ture.      His    inventive    turn,    or    shall   I   say   his    planning 


^Et.23.]  THE    STUDY    OF    ARABIC.  271 

faculty,  which  was  always  so  prolific  of  new  schemes  and 
suggestions,  finds  full  play  in  this  learned  essay.  His  views 
respecting  translated  grammars  will  strike  many  persons  as 
novel  and  worthy  of  attention.  His  witty  allusion  to  the 
Chinese  tailor  is  characteristic.  There  is  indeed  an  air  of 
light-hearted  gaiety  about  the  whole  performance.  This  was 
always  his  mood  when  he  was  in  full  health,  and  was  interested 
in  his  work.  He  took  the  same  joyous  satisfaction  in  his  folio 
Targums  and  Oriental  dictionaries,  that  a  sportsman  does  in 
his  horses  and  dogs.  His  favourite  studies  were  always  an 
enthusiasm  with  him  ;  he  was  either  in  love  with  a  piirsuit  or 
had  taken  a  disgust  for  it ;  and  was  never  more  ready  to  break 
out  into  fun  than  when  he  was  most  busy,  and  his  mind  was 
excited  by  his  toils. 

"  We  shall  add  a  few  words  with  respect  to  the  study  of  Arabic. 
It  is  highly  desirable,  on  various  accounts  that  a  knowledge  of  this 
noble  and  important  language  should  become  more  common.     Biblical 
learning  and  the  missionary  enterprise  alike  demand  it.     What  we 
most  need,  is  a  taste  for  the  pursuit,  and  a  conscientious  willingness  to 
undertake  the  task.     The  great  deficiency  is  not  so  much  in  grammars, 
as  in  men  to  study  them.     We  observe  that  Mr.  Smith,  the  American 
missionary  at  Malta,  has  declined  to  undertake  an  English  version  of 
Ibn  Ferhat's  grammar.     His  views  are  such  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected from  a  man  of  sense  and  learning.     It  may,  indeed,  be  stated  as 
a  general  truth,  that  translated  grammars  are  as  likely  to  be  hinder- 
ances  as  helps.     A  grammarian  cannot  possibly  explain  the  phenomena 
of  a  foreign  language,  except  by  appealing  to  the  structure  of  his  own 
or  of  that  in  which  he  writes.    Now  as  every  language  has  its  peculiar- 
ities, both  great  and  small,  no  two  can  stand  in  the  same  relation  to  a 
third.    Latin  and  French  agree  where  French  and  English  differ.    The 
same  form  of  speech  in  Latin,  th^efore,  which  must  be  explained  to 
English  learners,  may  be  as  clear,  without  elucidation,  to  the  French- 
man, as  if  founded  upon  some  fixed  law  of  nature.     Give  the  latter  the 
same  comments  that  you  give  the  former,  and  you  not  only  do  not  aid 
him,  but  you  really  confound  him.     For  we  need  not  say  that  the  at- 
tempt to  explain  what  is  perfectly  intelligible  must  have  that  effect. 
The  same  remark  may  be  applied  to  another  case.    For  a  familiar 
instance,  we  refer  to  Josse's  Spanish  Grammar,  as  translated  into  Eng- 
lish by  Mr.  Sales,  of  Cambridge.     The  original  work  was  designed  for 


272  FOREIGN    GRAMMARS.  [1832. 

Frenchmen,  and  as  the  translator,  -we  believe,  is  himself  a  Frenchman, 
many  rules  and  statements  in  themselves  just,  and  in  tLeir  proper 
placts  useful,  are  wholly  unintelligible  to  the  English  reader.  Analo- 
gous cases  will  occur  to  every  scholar,  abundantly  proving  that  the 
servi'e  transfer  not  of  language  merely,  but  of  rules,  arrangements, 
proofs,  and  illustrations,  is  unfriendly  to  the  only  end  which  grammars 
should  promote.  "While  we  believe,  with  Dr.  Johnson,  that  the  practice 
of  translating  (in  the  proper  sense,  and  on  an  extensive  scale)  is  injuri- 
ous to  the  purity  of  language,  we  likewise  consider  it  injurious  to  the 
interests  of  sound  and  thorough  scholarship.  To  avoid  the  former  evil, 
Ave  would  substitute  the  transfusion  of  thoughts  for  the  translation  of 
words.  To  remedy  the  latter,  we  would  have  bilingual  scholars  to 
study,  sift,  digest,  remodel,  reproduce.  By  this  we  should  avoid  the 
needless  introduction  of  an  uncouth  terminology  and  the  practical 
paralogism  of  attempting  to  explain  ignotum  per  ignotius.  By  this 
means  too,  a  freshness  would  be  given  to  our  learned  works,  very  unlike 
the  tang  contracted  by  a  passage  over  sea.  This  too,  would  serve  to 
check  the  strong  propensity  of  young  philologists  towards  a  stagnant 
acquiescence  in  the  dicta  of  their  text-books,  which  is  always  attended 
with  the  danger  of  mistaking  form  for  substance,  and  forgetting  the 
great  ends  of  language  in  the  infinitesimal  minutiae  of  a  barren  etymol- 
ogy. In  Germany,  that  great  philological  brewery,  the  extreme  of 
stagnation  has  been  long  exchanged  for  that  of  fermentation,  and 
although  we  do  not  wish  to  see  the  eccentricities  of  foreign  scholarship 
imported  here,  we  do  believe  that  much  of  their  advancement  may 
be  fairly  traced  to  their  contempt  of  mere  authority,  their  leech-like 
thirst  for  indefinite  improvement,  and  their  practice  of  working  up  the 
materials  of  their  learning  into  new  and  varied  forms  without  much 
regard  to  preexistent  models.  Let  us  imitate  their  merits  and  avoid 
their  faults.  Let  us  mount  upon  their  shoulders,  not  grovel  at  their 
fee?.  Let  us  take  the  stuff  which  they  provide  for  us,  and  mould  it  for 
ourselves,  to  suit  our  own  peculiarities  of  language,  habit,  genius, 
wants,  and  prospects.  Let  our  boo©  be  English,  not  Anglo-French  or 
Anglo-German.  Let  us  not  make  thetn  as  the  Chinese  tailor  made  the 
tar's  new  jacket,  with  a  patch  to  suit  the  old  one. 

"  To  return  to  grammars — though  what  we  said  above  may  seem 
directly  applicable  only  to  those  written  in  one  language  to  explain  an- 
other, it  applies  &  fortiori,  to  what  are  called  native  grammars,  which 
are  merely  designed  to  reduce  into  systematic  form  the  knowledge  pre- 
viously gathered  by  empirical  induction.  To  those  who  have  become 
familiar  with  a  language  in  the  concrete  by  extensive  reading,  such 


Mt.  23.]  FOREIGN    GRAMMARS.  273 

works  are  highly  useful  and  need  no  translation.  To  beginners  they 
are  useless;  for  they  presuppose  the  knowledge  which  beginners  want. 
Besides,  they  are  untranslatable,  as  Mr.  Smith  justly  affirms — with 
special  reference,  indeed,  to  Bahth  El  Mutalib,  of  which  we  know 
nothing  but  through  him.  "We  may  add,  however,  that  even  if  that 
work  admitted  of  translation,  it  would  scarcely  throw  more  light  upon 
the  subject  than  De  Sacy's  lucid  digest  (pre-eminently  lucid  after  all 
deductions,  drawbacks,  and  exceptions)  the  fruit  of  most  laborious  and 
long  continued  study  of  numerous  authorities — a  work,  too,  which  has 
had  more  indirect  influence  on  biblical  philology  than  many  are  aware 
of.* 

""When  De  Sacy  has  been  mastered  and  exhausted,  he  may  very 

fairly  be  condemned  and  thrown  aside.  To  those  who  would  prefer  a 
shorter  grammar  and  the  Latin  tongue,  Eosenmuller's  book  may  be 
safely  recommended.  It  is  Erpenius  rewritten,  with  improvements 
from  De  Sacy.  Meanwhile  we  look  with  some  impatience  for  the 
forthcoming  work  of  Ewald,  whose  acuteness,  ingenuity,  and  habits  of 
research  afford  the  promise  of  a  masterly  performance.t  It  must  be 
owned,  however,  that  we  do  not  need  reading-books,  or  Renders,  fur 
beginners.  Most  of  the  chrestomathies  prepared  in  Europe  appear  to 
presuppose  some  acquaintance  with  the  Koran.  For  us  this  will  not 
answer.  Here,  where  the  study  is,  at  most,  but  nascent,  we  need  an 
introduction  to  the  Koran  itself.  "We  have  often  thought  that  a  selec- 
tion of  historical  passages  from  that  book,  reduced  to  order,  with 
grammatical  notes  and  a  vocabulary,  would  answer  the  ends  of  a 
chrestomathy  for  mere  beginners  most  completely.  It  is  highly  im- 
portant that  the  learner's  first  acquaintance  with  the  written  language, 
should  be  formed  upon  the  Koran.  Amidst  all  the  dialectic  variations 
of  a  tongue  which  is  spoken  from  the  great  Sahara  to  the  Steppes  of 
Tartary,  there  is  a  large  proportion  both  of  words  and  phrases,  every- 
where the  same.  These  are  the  words  and  phrases  of  the  Koran, 
which  religious  scruples  have  preserved  from  change,  and  religious  use 

*  No  one  we  think  who  is  familiar  with  De  Sacy's  noble  work  can  fail  to  re- 
cognise its  agency  in  giving  form,  perspicuity,  and  richness  to  the  famous 
Lehrgebaade  of  Gesenius.  J.  A.  A. 

f  There  is  in  addition  to  the  works  referred  to  by  Mr.  Alexander,  a  valua- 
ble and  very  compendious  handbook  by  Tregelles.  There  is  also  a  grammar  of 
note  by  Caspari.  It  has  been  translated  into  English  by  William  Wright, 
Assistant  in  the  MS.  Department,  British  Museum,  and  published  by  Williams  & 
Norgate,  Covent  Garden,  London,  1862.  It  must  be  imported,  and  is  a  beauti- 
fully printed  and  yet  really  cheap  octavo. 
12* 


274  FAMILIARITY    WITH    CURRENT    ARABIC.  [1832. 

made  universally  familiar.  He  who  is  acquainted  with  the  language 
of  the  Koran,  has  the  means  of  oral  access  to  any  Arab,  and  to  almost 
any  Mussulman.  He  may  not  understand  as  yet  the  many  variations 
of  the  vulgar  from  the  sacred  tongue,  much  less  the  local  diversities  of 
speech;  but  he  has  the  foundation  upon  which  these  rest,  the  stated 
formula  from  which  they  are  mere  departures.  He  will  also  have  ac- 
quired a  measure  of  that  knowledge,  with  respect  to  facts  and  doc- 
trines, which  no  man  can  dispense  with,  who  would  either  vanquish  or 
convert  the  Moslem." 

The  writer  of  the  above  could  "be  no  smatterer ;  he  certain- 
ly must  have  felt  the  firm  ground  of  true  and  thorough  knowl- 
edge, of  a  learning  as  solid  as  it  was  extensive,  beneath  his 
feet.  We  need  not  wonder  then,  if  Mr.  Walsh  should  con- 
found this  nameless  young  man  who  wrote  the  Persian  article 
in  the  Quarterly  with  the  well-known  theological  professor  at 
Princeton,  and  suppose  him  to  be  one  of  thematurest  oriental- 
ists in  the  country.  He  teas  one  of  the  maturest  orientalists  in 
the  country  !  "  The  study,"  as  he  says,  "  was  then,  at  most, 
but  nascent."  Mr.  Alexander  had  few  companions  at  that 
clay  in  those  tropical  voyages  among  the  spice-islands,  or  in 
these  violent  inroads  upon  the  domain  of  the  false  prophet. 
Persian  was  a  greater  luxury  to  him  than  Lalla  Rookh.  He 
had  been  reading  Arabic  from  the  time  he  was  nine  or  ten 
years  old,  and  had  been  familiar  with  the  Koran  ever  since  he 
knewr  anything  about  the  language.  He  had  read  it  through 
at  least  four  years  previously,  and  had  committed  parts  of  it 
to  memory.  He  could  write  Arabic  letters  (Arabic  epistles,  I 
mean)  with  the  same  rapidity  and  apparent  ease  that  he  could 
English.  He  had  a  o-reat  talent  for  forming  the  characters  of 
a  foreign  language.  He  wrrote  the  Hebrew  with  singular  ele- 
gance. The  letters  were  made  small  and  uniform,  and  looked 
nearly  as  well  as  print.  Some  of  his  Arabic  is  in  the  beautiful 
current  hand  in  which  accomplished  dragomans  write  PArabe 
vulgaire  :*  sometimes  it  is  carefully  copied  from  the  style 
which  is  seen  in  printed  books;  more  commonly  it  is  in  the  same 

*  See  fac-siniile  in  Byron's  poetical  works.     Murray,  1815,  vol.  i.  r.  303. 


^t.23.]  HENRY    VETHAKE.  275 

general  style  but  dashed  off  with  the  masterly  negligence  with 
which  a  man,  who  feels  at  home  in  it,  dashes  off  a  familiar  let- 
ter in  his  native  tongue. 

The  young  adjunct  professor  lived  at  this  time  in  the 
house  of  Mr.  Henry  Vethake,  the  professor  of  natural  philo- 
sophy. The  building  was  situated  at  a  point  precisely  in  a 
line  with  the  college  and  towards  the  dwelling  of  the  Presi- 
dent. On  the  other  side  of  the  college  stood  the  steward's 
hall.  It  was  now  and  there  that  Mr.  Alexander  gave  his  heart 
to  God  according  to  the  terms  of  the  everlasting  covenant. 
Mr.  Alexander  had  a  decided  admiration  for  his  associate,  as 
was  the  case  with  all  others  who  knew  him.  Henry  Veth- 
ake was  an  accomplished  man,  and  in  a  great  variety  of  ways. 
His  forte  was  probably  political  economy,  though  in  his  time 
he  honoured  and  graced  many  different  chairs.  He  was  a 
scholar  of  the  type  that  is  best  known  on  the  continent  of  Eu- 
rope. He  was  a  native  of  Prussia,  having  come  with  his 
parents  to  the  United  States  when  he  was  yet  a  child.  His 
boyhood  was  passed  in  New  York,  where  he  afterwards  re- 
ceived his  academic  degree  from  Columbia  College.  His  first 
post  as  a  teacher  was  in  this  institution.  Subsequently  he  ac- 
cepted the  professorship  of  mathematics  and  natural  philoso- 
phy in  Queen's  (now  Rutgers)  College,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 
In  the  year  1817  he  was  chosen  to  be  the  oc^ipant  of  the 
chair  of  mathematics,  natural  philosophy  and  chemistry,  in 
.he  College  of  New  Jersey.  He  seemed  for  some  time  to  be 
the  sport  of  changes.  The  next  year  his  department  was  di- 
vided and  he  became  the  professor  of  mathematics  and  me- 
chanical philosophy.  Two  or  three  years  later  he  resigned 
his  chair  at  Princeton  and  went  to  Carlisle,  Penn.,  as  professor 
of  the  same  branches  in  Dickinson  College.  There  he  re- 
mained till  the  autumn  of  1829.  The  following  year  he  re- 
turned to  Princeton  and  was  for  two  years  professor  of  natural 
philosophy  in  the  college.  After  the  lapse  of  two  more  years 
he  again  resigned  his  chair  at  Princeton  and  accepted  one  in 
the  University  of  New  York,  then  just  established.  •  Two  or 
three  years  after  he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Wash- 


276  COLLEGE    MANNERS.  [1832. 

ington  College  in  Lexington,  Rockbridge   county,   Virginia. 
He  remained  there  about  twelve  months. 

The  last  thirty  years,  or  more,  of  his  life  was  spent  in 
Philadelphia,  amidst  the  congenial  society  of  men  of  letters, 
and  chiefly  in  connection  with  the  University  of  Pennsylvania, 
in  which  institution  he  was  at  first  the  professor  of  mathe 
matics,  and  afterwards  the  Provost  of  the  University.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  held  the  same  chair  in  the  Polytechnic 
School,  or  College,  of  Philadelphia. 

Dr.  Vethake  was  a  man  of  varied  attainments  both  in 
science  and  literature,  and  an  excellent  teacher.  He  was  withal 
an  amiable  man  and  a  good  companion.  As  a  writer  he  is 
chiefly  known  as  the  author  of  certain  contributions  to  the 
science  of  political  economy.  He  prepared  a  supplementary 
volume  for  an  edition  of  the  American  Encyclopaedia,  published 
some  years  ago  in  Philadelphia.  The  daily  society  of  such  a 
man  must  have  been  a  great  treat  to  the  bashful  linguist. 

Professor  Burrowes*  of  Easton  writes,  that  when  he  entered 
Princeton  College  in  the  autumn  of  1830,  Mr.  Alexander  was  adjunct, 
professor  of  languages,  living  in  the  college  and  acting  as  tutor.  His 
room  was  on  the  fourth  floor  of  the  old  college  building,  next  to  the 
hell,  and  over  what  was  then  the  chapel.  He  occupied  afterwards  the 
front  room  on  fie  left  of  the  entry  of  a  house  then  standing  on  the  now 
open  space  between  the  college  and  the  old  Library.  "  As  my  room," 
he  says,  "  was  on  the  same  entry  with  his  in  college,  he  looked  in  on 
us  daily  in  the  visits  made  by  the  tutors  to  the  rooms  of  the  students. 
There  was  a  marked  difference  between  the  air  with  which  the  other 
tutor  threw  wide  open  the  door  in  his  vis-its,  and,  pausing,  looked 
around  to  see  if  any  of  the  inmates  had  escaped  since  his  last  trip; 
and  the  quick  movement  with  which  the  door  was  opened  barely 
enough  to  let  us  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  fresh,  ruddy,  handsome  face  of 
Professor  Addison,  and  then  closed  again  and  he  was  gone.  On 
one  occasion  a  member  of  our  class,  pleasant  and  companionable,  but 
not  in  danger  of  hurting  himself  with  study,  came  into  our  room  just 

*  The  Rev.  Geo.  Burrowes,  D.D.  Professor  of  Biblical  Instruction  in  La- 
fayette College. 


MT.2S.1  ANECDOTES.  277 

after  the  professor  had  passed,  mortified  and  saying — "  I  will  try  here- 
after to  avo.d  Professor  Addison  in  his  rounds.     As  I  passed  him  in 

the  entry  he  said  to  me,  '  Mr. ,  you  seem  a  bird  of  passage  ;  I  find 

you  always  on  the  wing.'  "  Even  then,  though  a  young  man  hardly 
one  and  twenty,  this  writer  remembers  that  he  carried  witli  him  great 
influence,  and  commanded  unbounded  respect.  "  No  student  ever 
dreamed  of  playing  on  him  any  of  the  pranks  of  which  the  other 
tutor  had  so  bountiful  a  share.  His  great  reputation  for  one  of  his 
years  had  thrown  a  something  around  him  that  caused  him  to  be 
looked  up  to  with  a  kind  of  awe  by  the  poor  hard-working  herd,  plod- 
ding our  way  along  through  jagged  passes  of  the  hill  of  science,  over 
which  we  felt  he  had  swept  with  an  eagle's  wing." 

He  mentions  an  amusing  instance  of  this  feeling.  There  were  two 
rooms  in  the  refectory,  in  one  of  which  was  a  cheaper  table  where  wtre 
gathered  most  of  the  pious  students.  The  young  professor  took  the 
head  of  the  table  in  this  room.  "  I  noticed  that  his  end  of  the  table 
was  for  some  reason  deserted ;  and  found  that  these  good  men,  most 
of  whom  were  candidates  for  the  ministry,  had  crowded  away  from 
him  to  a  most  respectful  distance,  because  they  were  absolutely  afraid 
of  him.  They  appeared  to  have  the  impression  that  he  could  not 
stoop  from  his  lofty  perch  to  anything  short  of  Persian  and  Arabic 
roots.  They  seemed  to  look  upon  him  as  they  might  look  on  a  Leyden 
jar  heavily  charged,  as  likely  to  give  a  dangerous  shock  to  any  one 
coming  too  near."  No  shadow  of  dislike,  he  is  satisfied,  had  anything 
to  do  with  this  strange  avoidance.  "The  thing  was  amusingly  ridicu- 
lous, when  the  reason  was  known.  He  doubtless  never  knew  any- 
thing of  it."  Seeing  the  way  in  which  the  table  had  been  cleared  at 
the  professor's  end — "  really  an  instinctive  tribute  to  his  great  reputa- 
tion"— the  writer  says  he  took  a  vacant  seat  next  to  him,  and,  "to  the 
surprise  of  the  others,  found  this  young  man  of  whom  they  were  so  shy, 
to  be  gentle  and  pleasant,  possessing  great  powers  of  conversation,  and 
in  his  conversation  most  suggestive  and  instructive.  I  regret  that  I  did 
not  make  a  record  of  some  conversations  then  had  with  him. 

"  Indeed,"  he  continues,  "both  he  and  his  brother,  Dr.  James  "W. 
Alexander,  were  such  men  that  it  was  hard  to  come  in  contact  with 
them  without  receiving  some  influence  making  itself  felt  in  an  enliven- 
ing power  on  the  mind  and  heart.  A  single  remark  by  Dr.  James  in  a 
morning  walk  before  I  went  to  college,  made  an  impression  on  me 
through  life.  He  suggested  the  importance  of  resolving  to  read  at  least 
one  verse  of  the  Greek  Testament  every  day ;  to  read  the  Psalms 
through  once  a  month  according  to  the  division  in  the  Book  of  Common 


278  PUBLIC   PRATERS.  [1832. 

Prayer  ;  and  to  read  a  chapter  daily  in  the  book  of  Proverbs,  which 
will  take  us  through  them  once  a  month.  The  suggestion  was  a  simple 
one  ;  but  the  enduring  effects  have  been  among  the  most  valuable  on 
my  religious  life." 

While  sitting  at  the  college  table  with  Professor  Addison  Alexander 
he  could  not  avoid  noticing  "how  little  indulgence  he  gave  his  appe- 
tite. He  carried  in  his  countenance  every  appearance  of  the  best 
health,  and  was  of  full  habit  of  body  ;  but  he  ate  less  than  any  person 
I  have  ever  known.  One  slender  meal  a  day  was  all  his  healthy  appe- 
tite seemed  to  crave.  At  the  other  meals  in  the  refectory  he  would 
preside,  but  take  nothing.  The  powers  of  his  body  were  made  tribu- 
tary to  the  wants  and  higher  ministry  of  the  mind  ;  and  they  received 
no  indulgence  on  his  part  any  further  than  was  necessary  for  keeping 
the  material  enginery  in  fit  condition  for  the  demands  of  the  service 
needed  by  the  activity  of  the  soul."  * 

He  cannot  forget  the  impression  made  on  him  as  a  student,  by  the 
prayers  of  Professor  Alexander  while  officiating  at  morning  prayers  in 
the  college  chapel.  "It  was  not  that  there  was  any  attempt  at  display, 
or  fine  language.  Like  his  father  before  him,  everything  of  this  kind 
he  despised.  The  simplicity,  fitness,  and  comprehensiveness  of  the  lan- 
guage constituted  its  beauty  and  its  power.  It  was  the  utterance  o 
the  feelings  of  humble  piety  in  abasement  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  by  a 
mind  which  grasped  those  subtle  feelings  with  the  precision  of  a  giant's 
strength,  and  expressed  them  in  words  of  a  transparency  and  fitness 
that  genius  only  can  command."  And  when  he  attended  the  meetings 
of  the  Philadelphian  Society,  a  gathering  of  pious  students  only,  he  was 
struck  with  the  same  characteristics  of  his  language.  "  Had  it  been 
possible  to  evaporate  the  ideas  from  the  words,  it  seemed  as  though 
there  would  linger  a  nameless  beauty  and  music  still  among  the  words. 
His  language  flowed  easy  and  gentle ;  though  strong,  a  stream 

' Strong  without  rage,  without  o'erflowing  full ' — 

full  of  the  clearest,  richest  good  sense  and  piety." 

The  writer,  like  most  others,  thinks  it  was  a  wonder  that  a  man 
who  had  mingled  with  the  world  so  little,  could  know  so  much  about  it ; 
and  that  one  who  had  so  lately  become  pious,  could  pour  out  such  a 
flow  of  sober,  clear,  rich  good  sense  to  professing  Christians.  "  Good 
writing,"  he  says,  "  and  good  discourse  is  the  embodying  of  good  sense 
in  good  language.   In  all  this,  he  was  even  from  that  early  age  pre-emi- 

*  I  am  under  the  impression  that  he  took  some  of  his  meals  at  home. 


J3t.23.]  MODESTY    AND    SKILL    AS    A    TEACHER.  279 

nent.  To  him,  this  was  natural.  He  could  not  help  it.  He  could  not 
if  he  would,  have  used  any  other  than  this  clear,  appropriate,  precise 
expressive,  unapproachable  language.     Of  him  I  felt  it  was  not  true — 

Ut  sibi  quivis 
Speret  idem ;  sudet  multum,  frustraque  laboret 
Ausus  idem  : 

For  you  had  no  disposition  to  try.  You  felt  in  listening,  that  try  as  you 
might,  you  could  never  hope  to  attain  such  a  mastery  of  language." 

The  vigour  and  clearness  of  his  mind  were  apparent  in  the  class-room. 
He  was  a  great  teacher.  The  secret  of  successful  instruction  is  to  in- 
terest and  rouse  the  mind  of  the  student  to  work  for  himself.  This  he 
did.  "  He  benefited  his  class  not  by  loading  them  down  with  useless 
lumber,  like  an  ass  sinking  under  his  panniers ;  but  by  stimulating  and 
quickening  their  dormant  energies.  He  was  quick;  sometimes  per- 
haps too  quick  for  the  grade  of  scholarship  in  college-classes  as  they 
then  were ;  and  like  all  men  of  energy  such  as  his,  seemed  to  slower 
and  more  plodding  minds,  at  times  a  little  sharp:  forgetting  under  the 
impulse  of  his  own  fulness  and  enthusiasm,  the  great  interval  there  was 
between  his  own  talents  and  attainments,  and  the  talents  and  attain- 
ments of  those  before  him.  In  any  accidental  case  of  this  kind,  a  mo- 
ment's reflection  was  sufficient  to  bring  into  exercise  his  lofty  mag- 
nanimity, which  soothed  any  wounded  feeling." 

The  writer  adverts  to  the  fact  that  some  men  are  fond  of  making 
an  ostentatious  display  of  their  learning.  To  this  the  professor  never 
stooped.  "  With  a  memory  of  marvellous  power  and  all  the  varied 
riches  of  his  great  acquisitions  at  instant  command  with  ease,  he 
brought  forth  from  his  treasures  only  what  was  needed  for  putting  in  a 
proper  light  before  the  class  the  point  requiring  explanation,  and  what 
the  grade  of  scholarship  in  his  students  needed  and  could  appropriate 
with  advantage."  In  his  instructions  in  college,  he  says,  the  same 
characteristics  appeared  that  are  visible  in  his  commentaries — "the 
results  of  the  richest  and  most  varied  learning  sifted  from  everything 
extraneous,  and  concentrated  on  the  direct  point  at  issue,  always  with 
reference  to  the  wants  and  degree  of  advancement  of  those  under  in- 
struction. He  was  the  last  man  to  suspect  of  Hezekiah's  weakness  in 
showing  '  the  house  of  his  precious  tilings,  the  silver,  and  the  gold,  and 
all  that  was  found  in  his  treasures.'  All  his  intellectual  treasure  of 
whatever  kind  that  might  be  needed,  was,  however,  forthcoming  at  the 
right  moment;  and  that  too,  refined,  recoined,  and  bearing  his  own 
imperial  impress  and  superscription." 


280  THE    TRENTON    PASTOR.  [1832. 

If  the  testimony  of  Dr.  Burrowes  is  worthy  of  credence,  no  man 
could  command  more  respect.  "  He  was  respected  for  his  abil- 
ities and  attainments ;  and  then  his  quick  wit  made  those  disposed  to 
trespass  feel  there  was  a  power  behind  the  throne  with  which  it  was 
perilous  to  meddle.  Self-conceit  and  presumption  found  instinctively 
their  level,  and  were  satisfied  to  keep  it."  In  keen  delicate  wit  and 
sarcasm  he  was,  in  the  writer's  estimation,  unsurpassed.  "This  was 
never  used  unnecessarily  ;  it  was  kept  as  a  power  in  reserve.  Like  the 
colossal  spectre  touched  by  the  wand  of  the  magician  in  the  Arabian 
tale,  the  unlucky  wight  of  large  dimensions  in  his  own  conceit, 
shrivelled  up  into  pitiable  littleness  under  the  touch  of  this  polished 
sha't.  In  his  writings  a  passing  flash  of  his  sarcasm  often  carries  more 
power  than  a  labored  argument.  It  may  come  like  lightning  from  a 
cloudless  sky;  an  unexpected  flash,  and  the  airy  towers  and  battlements 
of  pretension  and  sophistry  have  disappeared."' 

Mr.  Alexander's  eldest  brother  returned  from  Virginia 
about  the  time  that  the  young  philologist  accepted  the  posi- 
tion at  Patton's  school.  He  was  elected  pastor  of  the  congre- 
gation at  Trenton  in  the  autumn  of  1828,  and  preached  his 
first  sermon  to  the  Trenton  jteople  on  the  10th  of  January 
1829. 

The  letters  of  the  Trenton  pastor  to  Dr.  Hall  and  others, 
and  his  copious  private  diaries,  and  ephemerides,  of  this  pe- 
riod, are  not  only  profoundly  interesting  for  their  own  sakes 
and  because  of  their  connection  with  the  contemporary  his- 
tory, but  give  many  a  passing  glimpse  of  the  life  and  manners 
of  that  day,  as  Avell  as  of  the  new  teacher  Mr.  Patton  had  in- 
duced to  join  him  at  Edgehill,  and  who  soon  after  became  a 
sort  of  tutorial  professor  in  the  college,  and  a  few  years  later 
buried  himself  from  the  observation  of  the  idle  villagers  of 
Princeton,  among  strange  people  and  strange  scenes  across  the 
seas. 

Besides  finishing  the  books  commenced  the  last  year,  Mr. 
Alexander  read,  during  the  winter  of  this  year,  Kleinert  on 
Isaiah,  iEschines,  Hariri,  (with  Arabic  scholia,)  Luther's  Let- 
ters, Rosenmiiller  on  Isaiah,  and  Neander  on  the  Primitive 
Church. 


^Et.23.]  NEWSPAPER   SCRIBBLINGS.  281 

On  Feb.  20  he  began  to  read  the  Psalms  again  with  some 
degree  of  critical  attention ;  supplying  the  vowels  in  the  un- 
pointed text,  and  using  the  pointed  text  as  a  commentary. 
"  This,"  he  says,  "  is  my  general  plan  for  Hebrew  study 
now." 

During  the  months  of  Dec.  1832  and  Jan.  1833,  he  wrote 
forty  articles  for  the  Presbyterian,  of  which  his  brother  was 
then  tbe  editor.* 


*  I  am  able  to  give  the  titles  of  these  little  articles,  from  a  paper  in  the 
author's  handwriting,  labelled : 
"paragraphs  contributed  to  tiie  Presbyterian,"  (by  J.  A.  A.),  "in  1832- 

33. 
Date  of  Writing. 


1. 

Nov. 

27,  1832 

.  On  Verbal  Orthodoxy. 

2. 

The  Biblical  Repository. 

3. 

Nov. 

29. 

The  Art  of  Reading. 

4. 

Soliloquies  in  Church. 

5. 

Nov. 

30. 

Learning  and  Religion. 

6. 

<( 

Moderation. 

7. 

II 

Princeton. 

8. 

(( 

Oxford  and  Cambridge. 

9. 

Dec. 

1. 

Excerpts. 

10. 

it 

Anecdote  of  Gellert. 

11. 

II 

German  Criticism. 

12. 

11 

Guardian  Angels. 

13. 

(1 

Mode  of  Printing  Poetry, 

14. 

Dec. 

3. 

Loyalty. 

15. 

<( 

Hastings. 

16. 

« 

Public  Worship. 

17. 

it 

Introductions. 

18. 

ii 

Formality  in  Preaching. 

19. 

Dec. 

5. 

African  Colonization. 

20. 

(C 

Charles  I.  and  Scotland. 

21. 

II 

College  Discipline. 

22. 

Dec. 

10. 

Excerpts. 

22. 

ii 

Pascal. 

23. 

it 

Dante. 

24. 

ii 

Imitation. 

25. 

Dec. 

17. 

Theological  Libraries. 

26. 

ii 

The  Sonna. 

282  PROGRESS    IN    STUDIES.  [1832. 

Date  of  Writing. 

27.  Dec.  18.  The  Sanhedrim  of  Paris. 

28.  Dec.  24.  An  Article,  Prejudice. 

29.  Jan.  5.,  1833.  A  Sheet. 

30.  Jan.  13.  An  article  siged  Simon. 

31.  Jan.  15.  An  article  signed  Peter. 

32.  Jan.  16.  An  article  signed  McD 

33.  Jan.  17.  A  paper  signed  Holofernes. 

34.  Jan.  18.  A  Churchyard  Dialogue  signed  S.  D.  A. 

35.  Jan.  21.  An  article  signed  Idiotes. 

36.  Jan.  22.  An  article  on  Plain  Preaching. 

37.  Jan.  23.  An  Editorial  on  Imitation. 

38.  Jan.  24.  An  Editorial  on  Missionary  Facts. 

39.  Jan.  25.  An  Editorial  on  the  Advantages  of  Presbyterianism. 
40   March  1.  Translation  of  an  article  on  Cyril  Lucaris. 

W.  S.  Martien  to  J.  A.  Alexander,  Dr. 

To  40  articles  at  $1 $40.00 

Received  payment." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Nevee  was  there  a  greater  mistake,  than  that  Professor 
Addison  Alexander  did  not  care  to  know  about  the  busy  world 
beyond  the  limits  of  his  study  and  class  room;  and  he  was 
now  resolved,  with  Parnell's  hermit,*  "to  find  if  books  or 
swains  report  it  right."  Mr.  Alexander's  acquaintance  with 
the  learned  and  critical  labours  of  Germany,  and  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  valuable  mental  discipline  afforded  by  her  uni- 
versities, had  greatly  stimulated  in  him  the  curiosity  which 
every  enlightened  American  feels  with  respect  to  Europe,  and 
had  awakened  in  his  breast  a  strong  desire  to  cross  the  seas, 
and  spend  some  time  in  foreign  travel,  and  in  the  search  for 
intellectual  improvement  in  the  foreign  schools.  His  friends 
all  thought  well  of  the  scheme,  and  his  father  and  those 
who  were  on  his  return  to  be  his  coadjutors  in  the  seminary, 
heartily  approved  of  it. 

The  Rev.  Rezeau  Brown,  who  was  animated  by  similar 
views,  and  still  more  by  a  wish  to  corroborate  his  shattered 
health,  made  every  preparation  to  accompany  him  ;  but  was 
destined,  as  we  have  seen,  for  a  shorter  voyage  to  a  better 
country.  He  was  too  unwell  to  start,  and  soon  after  breathed 
his  last.  This  was  a  heavy  blow  to  Mr.  Alexander ;  though  the 
voyage  to  Europe  was,  in  his  case,  an  accomplished  fact  before 
he  heard  of  his  friend's  death. 

Several  distinguished  gentlemen  communicated  with  Dr. 

*  "  To  clear  this  doubt,  to  know  tlic  world  by  sigbt, 
To  find  if  books  or  swains  report  it  right, 
For  yet  by  swains  alone  the  world  he  knew, 
Whose  feet  came  wandering  o'er  the  nightly  dew." 
— Parnell,  The  Hermit.     London,  Strand,  John  Bell,  HH.     p.  161. 


284  SAILS    FROM   NEW   YOEK.  [1832. 

Alexander  on  the  subject  of  his  son's  projected  voyage.  Here 
is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  Hon.  William  C.  Rives,  of 
Virginia,  relating  wholly  to  this  topic.  Mr.  Rives  had  been 
the  United  States  Minister  to  France. 

Castle  Hill,  April  12th,  1833. 
My  Dear  Sib, 

*  *  *  You  will  perceive  that  instead  of  a  letter 
to  Baron  de  Sacy,  with  whom  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  a  persona 
acquaintance,  I  have  written  one  to  the  Baron  deFerrusac,  who.  having 
heen  a  long  time  at  the  head  of  the  Bulletin,  Universel,  &c.,  has  familiar 
relations  with  the  whole  corps  of  literati  at  Paris,  and  whom  I  have 
particularly  requested  to  make  your  son  acquainted  with  Monsieur  de 
Sacy.  The  deaths  of  the  Count  Chaptal,  Baron  Cuvier,  &c.  during  the 
last  summer,  have  narrowed  considerably  the  circle  of  my  acquaintance 
with  the  savans  of  France,  or  I  should  have  added  other  letters  to 
members  of  that  fraternity.  Those  which  I  have  written  to  General 
Lafayette  and  Mr.  Niles,  our  late  Charge  d'affaires,  will,  however,  amply 
and  more  efficiently  supply  the  deficiency. 

I  am,  my  dear  sir,  most  truly,  Faithfully  yours, 

W.  C.  EIVES. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  1833,  having  resigned  for  that  pur- 
pose his  chair  in  the  college,  Mr.  Alexander  sailed  from  New- 
York,  in  the  ship  Samson,  Captain  Chadwick,  for  London. 
While  making  his  final  preparations  for  the  voyage,  he  re- 
mained a  day  or  two  with  Dr.  Benjamin  II.  Rice,  who  had 
married  his  father's  sister ;  and  was  attended  by  one  or  two 
of  his  kindred  to  the  quay.  During  Mr.  Alexander's  absence, 
Dr.  Rice  removed  from  New  York  to  Princeton,  and  became 
the  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  at  that  time  the  only 
church  in  the  place,  though  the  building  of  an  Episcopal  church, 
which  was  subsequently  put  up,  was  then  in   contemplation. 

The  following:  letter  to  his  mother  was  intended  to  cheer 
her  on  his  departure.     It  had  been  looked  for  with  impatience. 


Snip  Samsox,      ) 
o'clock,  Wednesday,  April  10,  1833.  [ 


5 
Mr  Dear  Mother  : 

Here  comes  your  pilotdetter.     I  have  as  yet  had  no  means  of  ascer- 


Ms.  24.]  SHIP   SAMSON.  285 

taining  whether  I  am  proof  against  seasickness,  the  weather  being  so 
extremely  mild  and  the  water  so  smooth.  Capt.  Cliadwick  is  one  of 
the  pleasantest  men  that  I  Lave  ever  seen.  Dr.  Cox  pleases  me  well 
thus  far.  He  is  frank  and  cordial,  but  not  obtrusive.  He  has  read  me 
whole  passages  from  his  book  already  and  told  me  things  without  num- 
ber. Our  party  includes  Mr.  Clay,  Secretary  to  the  Russian  Embassy, 
on  his  way  to  St.  Petersburg,  two  officers  of  the  English  army,  two 
other  Englishmen,  two  Canadians,  and  a  Frenchman.  We  have  thirty 
steerage  passengers,  mostly  English  people  going  home.  There  are 
chickens,  ducks,  and  a  cow  on  board.  Dr.  Cox,  the  English  officers, 
and  I,  have  the  ladies'  cabin  to  ourselves.  The  Captain  is  positive  that 
we  shall  reach  London  before  the  "  first  proximo,"  and  seems  to  an- 
ticipate fair  weather  throughout.  Clay  asked  me  if  I  had  relatives  at 
Princeton — said  he  knew  a  Mr.  Alexander  in  Virginia. 

I  must  go  above  now  and  see  what  is  passing  there.  Farewell,  be 
of  good  cheer,  as  I  am  and  shall  try  to  be. 

Love  to  all  and  every  one.  J.  A.  A. 

During  his  year's  absence,  Mr.  Alexander  kept  a  minute 
journal  of  all  that  befell  him.  We  shall  select  here  and 
there  from  his  diary  interesting  facts,  without  attempting 
to  give  a  continued  history  of  his  daily  life.  He  was  much 
interested  in  the  movements  of  the  captain,  the  mate  and  the 
pilot,  when  they  reached  the  Needles.    I  give  his  own  words  : 

"  In  the  midst  of  our  exulting  expectations  of  a  speedy  landing,  we 
were  becalmed  just  outside  of  the  Needles.  By  the  bye,  the  chief  mate 
is  a  sturdy  Yankee,  and  stands  up  for  America  with  laudable  intrepid- 
ity. As  he  was  eating  his  supper  to-night  with  the  other  mate  and  the 
pilot  at  the  foot  of  the  cabin  table,  I  heard  him  speaking  with  great 
scorn  of  the  English  game  laws,  and  the  absurdity  of  a  man's  not  be- 
ing suffered  to  shoot  on  his  own  grounds,  without  a  certain  amount  of 
property.  He  also  mystified  the  old  pilot  about  panthers  and  other 
beaits  in  America,  in  a  very  amusing  style.  He  was  at  dinner  to-day 
when  the  weather  changed,  and  the  pilot  gave  the  orders  for  manoeuv- 
ring, &c.  The  captain  hearing  the  noise,  ran  up,  looked  about  him, 
countermanded  the  pilot's  orders,  asked  him  what  he  was  about,  &c, 
and  assumed  the  command  himself;  yet  all  this  was  done  with  perfect 
equanimity  of  temper.  I  never  knew  indeed,  till  I  came  to  sen,  how 
far  peremptory  decision  and  even  rigour  could  be  blended  with  uniform 
good  humour.     It  is  a  fact,  however,  that  both  Chadwicks  scold  the 


286  ENGLISH    STAGE    COACH.  [1833. 

sailors  without  a  change  of  countenance.  The  second  mate  scolds 
the  seamen,  the  first  mate  the  second  and  the  captain,  all  together, 
without  any  manifestation  of  surprise  or  discontent.  But  to  return  to 
the  pilot ;  he  was  once  a  slaver  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  find  still  speaks 
with  satisfaction  of  his  former  enormities.  His  son  was  lately  detected 
in  smuggling,  and  was  condemned  to  five  years  service  in  a  man-of-war. 
The  old  man's  dialect  and  manner  are  to  me  entirely  new  and 
strange." 

Here  is  a  lively  description  of  an  English  stage  coach,  as 
these  vehicles  were  thirty-five  years  ago ;  which  may  be  read 
before,  or  after,  those  of  Irving,  Dickens,  and  De  Quincey. 

';  Just  imagine  that  you  see  us  at  the  door  of  the  hotel,  surrounded 
by  some  six  or  seven  men  each  asserting  the  immense  superiority  of 
his  or  his  master's  coach  and  directly  contradicting  what  the  others 
said.  The  'Rockett  is  much  the  fastest  coach,  sir — we  shall  be  in  by 
half-past  five.'  '  The  Rockett  charges  extra  for  baggage,  sir — the  Reg- 
ulator never  does.'  '  We  go  at  nine,  sir — we  shall  be  in  first.'  '  Wb 
go  at  ten,  sir — but  we  arrive  beforo  the  others.'  '  How  can  you  lie 
so?  you  are  unable  of  speaking  the  truth.'  During  our  negotiations, 
we  changed  our  scene  of  action.  One  was  taking  us  off"  to  see  his 
coach,  when  lo  !  another  turned  us  back  by  his  representative,  and  thus 
the  thing  proceeded  until  I  began  to  think  our  situation  rather  ludic- 
rous, and  told  Dr.  Cox  that  if  he  pleased,  I  would  assume  the  respon- 
sibility of  deciding  at  once,  which  I  forthwith  did,  in  favor  of  the  Reg- 
ulator, the  9  o'clock  coach,  which,  in  the  course  of  ten  minutes  was  at 

the  door. 

"  The  coach,  when  it  took  us  up,  had  only  a  pair  of  horses ;  but  while 
we  stopped  at  another  inn  to  receive  our  complement  of  passengers, 
two  horses  wrere  added ;  forming  the  noblest  quaternion  of  steeds  that  I 
ever  saw  attached  to  a  public  conveyance.  The  harness,  too,  has  the 
appearance  of  being  perfectly  new ;  and  to  complete  the  picture,  a 
'gentleman,'  dressed  in  a  black  frock-coat,  with  drab  trousers  and 
gaiters,  took  his  seat  as  coachman." 

He  continues  to  describe  the  ride  through  English  country. 

""We  now  paid  our  fare  (15s.),  and  were  dunned  by  a  lad  who  pre- 
tended that  he  had  'loaded  our  luggage'  at  the  Quebec  hotel ;  though 
we  all  agreed  in  saying  that  we  had  never  seen  his  face.     A  handsome 


>Et.  24.]  PORTSJUOUTH    TO    LONDON.  287 

young  man,  about  my  age,  took  his  seat  beside  the  coachman,  and  we 
set  off  at  a  smart  pace  through  the  streets  of  Portsmouth.  This  being 
the  first  time  that  I  had  travelled  iu  the  old  world,  I  kept  both  my  eyes 
wide  open  in  search  of  novelties.  The  first  thing  that  struck  me  was 
the  antique  look  of  the  houses,  built  of  dirty  brick,  as  little  like  the 
brick  of  Philadelphia  or  New  York  as  you  can  well  imagine.  The  next 
thing  that  struck  me  was  the  variety  of  costume.  Here  was  a  man  in 
pantaloons,  there  one  in  breeches,  yonder  one  in  gaiters ;  further  on 
was  one  in  a  shirt  or  frock,  &c,  &c.  Soldiers  we  saw  at  every  corner ; 
young  and  old ;  and  I  was  much  surprised  at  the  smartness  of  their 
appearance;  their  red  coats  and  white  trousers  seemed  to  have  just 
proceeded  from  the  tailor's  hands.  A  ride  of  any  sort,  after  our  voyage, 
would  have  been  a  luxury ;  but  such  a  ride  as  we  were  now  to  enjoy 
was  more  than  luxurious;  it  was  luscious.  In  the  outskirts  of  Ports- 
mouth we  began  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  English  cultivation ;  little  gardens, 
exquisitely  neat,  grass-plots  of  the  most  delicious  green,  hedges  and  trees 
and  shrubbery — all  combined  to  make  it  overpowering.  The  milestones 
glided  by  us  with  surprising  speed,  and  yet  the  motion  of  the  coach  was 
all  but  imperceptible.  It  was  only  when  I  looked  at  the  horses  that  I  felt 
convinced  of  our  impetuous  progress.  The  coachman  made  much  enter- 
tainment by  his  dignified  and  gentlemanly  air.  There  was  not  the  least 
degree  of  that  vulgar  swagger  which  our  '  drivers'  commonly  display ; 
he  did  not  crack  his  whip  once,  and  very  seldom  lashed  the  horses, 
though  when  he  did,  ho  did  it  with  a  boldness  quite  alarming.  He  was 
loaded  with  commissions  in  the  shape  of  bundles,  letters,  &c,  both  from 
Portsmouth  and  from  places  on  the  road.  These  he  frequently  took  up 
without  stopping  at  all ;  just  as  he  paid  his  toll,  while  at  full  speed.  We 
changed  horses  six  or  seven  times,  with  great  rapidity  and  elegance. 
Besides  the  variety  of  scenery,  the  frequent  interchange  of  grain  fields, 
pasture  grounds  and  commons,  we  were  pleased  with  the  sight  of  flocks 
and  herds,  and  the  appearance  of  the  country  people.  What  struck  me 
particularly  in  the  latter  was  their  fresh,  healthy  appearance ;  I  do  not 
mean  mere  ruddiness.  Indeed,  I  was  mistaken  in  my  preconceptions. 
My  ideas  of  English  health  and  heartiness  were  associated  with  images 
of  grossness.  I  find,  however,  that  in  the  country  the  people  at  large, 
and  especially  the  women  and  children,  are  remarkable  for  a  clear, 
transparent  complexion,  smooth  full  skin,  and  smiling  countenance.  I 
am  forcibly  struck  with  the  contrast  between  the  boys  whom  we  met  in 
wagons  and  on  foot,  and  the  young  rustics  of  New  Jersey.  I  think 
I  may  say  with  truth  that  every  one  whom  we  met  was  fresh  and 
handsome." 


288  HOUSE    OF    COMMONS.  [1831. 

His  first  visit  to  the  House  of  Commons  was  not  altogether 
satisfactory. 

"  As  the  Doctor  and  I  walked  along  the  street  at  night,  we  felt  a 
curiosity  to  know  where  the  House  of  Commons  was.  The  Doctor  there- 
fore asked  a  gentleman  who  passed  us.  He  replied  '  This  is  it.  I  will 
show  you  the  way ;  hut  you  can't  get  in  without  an  order  from  a 
member.'  'I  was  not  aware  of  that,  sir;  we  are  strangers.'  'If  you 
wish  to  go  in,  I  will  give  you  an  order  with  pleasure.'  '  Are  you  a 
member,  sir  ?'  'Yes — for  Ireland."  He  then  took  us  in  through  a 
number  of  halls  and  passages  lined  with  two  rows  of  persons  waiting 
for  admission,  or  something  else,  to  a  little  office  on  one  side,  where  he 
wrote  an  order.  '  Admit  the  bearer.  P.  Lalor.'  He  gave  this  to  Dr, 
Cox  and  said  that  he  would  go  and  get  one  for  me ;  as  no  member  can 
can  give  more  than  one.  While  he  was  gone,  we  were  knocked  about 
by  the  door-keepers,  &c,  telling  us  to  stand,  now  on  this  side  and  then 
on  that.  At  last  he  returned  and  took  us  up  through  a  labyrinth  of  pas- 
sages to  a  small,  dark  lobby  in  which  a  number  of  persons  were  crowd, 
ed  round  two  doors.  Into  one  of  these  we  at  length  contrived  to 
peep,  and  had  the  happiness  of  seeing  Mr.  Manners  Sutton,  in  his  robe 
and  wig.  Mr.  Lalor  gave  Dr.  Cox  his  card  and  said  that  he  took  a 
particular  interest  in  Americans,  and  would  be  glad  to  do  us  any  service 
in  his  power." 

He  was  a  little  more  fortunate  at  Exeter -Hall. 

"  As  I  was  going  in,  a  policeman  at  his  door  asked  me  the  colour  of 
my  ticket.  I  told  him  I  had  none.  '  You  can't  go  in  without  one,' 
said  he.  'Do  they  sell  them?'  said  I.  'O  no,'  says  he,  'if  you  wish 
to  go  in,  I  think  I  can  get  you  a  place.'  He  then  took  me  round  the 
corner  into  a  postern  door,  got  a  ticket  from  the  porter,  and  conducted 
me  up-stairs,  saying — '  This  is  not  customary,  but  I  don't  like  to  see  a  re- 
spectable person  turned  away.'  In  a  moment  I  found  myself  in  a  sort 
of  gallery  opposite  the  platform  where  the  speakers  and  other  leading 
personages  sat.  I  soon  recognized  Dr.  Cox,  who  had  gone  out  while  I 
was  dressing.  Lord  Bexley  presided.  A  note  was  read  from  Teign- 
mouth,  and  then  an  abstract  of  the  report  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brandram, 
one  of  the  Secretaries.  The  Bishop  of  Winchester  then  rose,  dre-sed 
in  a  frock  coat  and  black  apron.  lie  was  followed  by  J.  J.  Gnrney, 
the  Quaker.  Then  came  Dr.  Cux,  then  a  member  of  Parliament,  then 
Baptist  Noel,   then  Dr.  Morrison,  then  Lord  Mountsanford,  then  the 


Mt.u.1  EDWARD    IRVING.  289 

Bishop  of  Chester.     All  the  speakers  were  applauded  more  or  less  by 
stamping,  clapping  of  hands,  and  occasionally,  cries  of  '  hear.'  " 

Mr.  Alexander's  passion  for  courts  and  juries,  judges,  wit- 
nesses and  hamsters,  was  much  indulged  in  England.  Here  is 
a  description  of  the  High  Court  of  Chancery,  and  what  he  saw 
there. 

"  A  guide  introduced  us  to  the  High  Court  of  Chancery — a  room 
not  near  so  large  as  the  court-room  at  Trenton,  but  handsomely  fitted 
up.  Here  we  saw  Lord  Brougham,  and  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing 
him  utter  a  few  words.  I  think  I  could  have  recognized  him  by  the 
pictures  I  have  seen,  though  they  are  all  caricatures.  He  has  a  very 
intellectual  physiognomy,  and  much  sarcastic  expression  in  the  twitch- 
ing of  his  face.  Here,  for  the  first  time,  I  saw  the  counsellors'  robes 
and  wigs.  In  the  latter  I  was  agreeably  disappointed;  they  are  by  no 
means  so  grotesque  as  I  supposed.  After  hearing  Sir  Edward  Sugden 
plead  awhile,  we  left  the  court,  and  in  the  hall  met  counsel  without 
number  in  their  gowns  and  wigs.  As  the  courts  all  sit  at  once,  the 
lawyers  are  obliged  to  pass  incessantly  from  one  to  another,  with  their 
green  bags  and  enormous  briefs." 

The  name  of  Edward  Irving,  who  was  now  one  of  the  lions 
of  London,  had  recently  become  familiar  to  the  two  Americans, 
and  they  were  both  eager  to  see  and  hear  him.  The  following 
account  by  the  younger  of  the  two,  tallies  precisely  with  that 
given  by  Lockhart  in  the  life  of  John  Wilson  *  by  Mrs.  Gordon, 
and  with  that  subsequently  printed  by  Dr.  Cox.  It  possesses 
a  curious  interest  now,  . 

"After  breakfast,  having  learned  that  Edward  Irving  was  to  hold  a 
meeting  at  half-pnst  eleven,  we  resolved  to  go;  but  without  expecting 
to  hear  the  tongues ;  as  they  have  not  been  audible  of  late.  Mr.  Nott, 
who  had  called  before  breakfast,  conducted  us  to  Newman  street,  where 
Irving  is  established  since  he  left  the  house  in  Regent  square.  As  we 
walked  along  we  saw  a  hidy  before  us  arm  in  arm  with  a  tall  man  in 
black  breeches,  a  broad-brimmed  hat,  and  black  hair  hanging  down  his 
shoulders.  This,  Mr.  Nott  informed  us,  was  Irving  himself  with  his 
cava  sposa.     We  followed  them  to  the  door  of  the  chapel  in  Newman 

*  See  ^Christopher  North."    W.  J.  Widdleton,  1863.     p.  271. 
J3 


290  HIS    CHURCH.  -jm. 

street ;  where  Dr.  Nott  left  us,  and  we  went  in.  The  chapel  is  a  room 
of  moderate  size,  seated  with  plain  modern  benches,  like  our  recitation- 
rooms.  The  end  opposite  the  entrance  is  semicircular,  and  filled  with 
amphitheatrical  seats.  In  front  of  these  there  is  a  large  arch,  and 
immediately  beneath  it  a  reading-desk  in  the  shape  of  an  altar,  with  a 
large  arm-chair  beside  it.  From  this  point  there  are  several  steps 
descending  toward  the  body  of  the  house,  on  which  are  chairs  for  the 
elders  of  the  church.  I  mention  these  particulars  because  I  think  the 
pnlpit  and  its  appendages  extremely  well  contrived  for  scenic  effects. 
The  following  diagram  may  give  some  faint  idea  of  the  appearance." 

Here  follows  a  carefully  drawn  picture  of  the  dais  and 
chairs. 

"  Soon  after  we  were  seated,  the  chairs  below  the  pulpit  were  occu- 
pied by  several  respectable  men,  one  of  them  quite  handsome  and  well 
dressed.  Another  man  and  a  woman  took  their  seats  upon  the  benches 
behind.  While  we  were  gazing  at  these,  we  heard  a  heavy  tramp 
along  the  aisle,  and  the  next  moment  Irving  walked  up  to  the  altar, 
opened  the  Bible,  and  began  at  once  to  read.  He  has  a  noble  figure, 
and  his  features  are  not  ugly;  with  the  exception  of  an  awful  squint. 
His  hair  is  parted  right  and  left,  and  hangs  down  on  his  shoulders  in 
affected  disorder.  His  dress  is  laboriously  old  fashioned — a  black 
quaker  coat  and  small  clothes.  His  voice  is  harsh,  but  like  a  trumpet ;  it 
takes  hold  of  one  and  cannot  be  forgotten.  His  great  aim  appeared  to  be 
t<  i  vary  his  attitudes  and  appear  at  ease.  He  began  to  read  in  a  standing 
posture,  but  had  scarcely  finished  half  a  dozen  verses  when  he  dropped 
into  the  chair  and  sat  while  he  read  the  remainder.  He  then  stepped 
forward  to  the  point  of  his  stage,  dropped  on  his  knees  and  began  to  pray 
in  a  voice  of  thunder;  most  of  the  people  kneeling  fairly  down.  At 
the  end  of  the  prayer  he  real  the  CGth  Psalm,  and  I  now  perceived  that 
his  selections  were  designed  to  have  a  bearing  on  the  persecutions  of 
his  people  and  himself.  The  chapter  from  Samuel  was  that  relating  to 
Shimei.  He  then  gave  out  the  GGth  Psalm  in  verse ;  which  was  sung 
standing,  very  well,  Irving  himself  joining  in  with  a  mighty  bass. 
He  then  began  to  read  the  39th  of  Exodus,  with  an  allegorical  exposi- 
tion, after  a  short  prayer  for  Divine  assistance.  The  ouches  of  the 
breast-plate  he  explained  to  mean  the  rulers  of  the  church.  While 
he  was  dealing  this  out,  he  was  interrupted  in  a  manner  rather  startling. 
I  had  observed  that  the  elders  who  sat  near  him,  kept  the'r  eyes  raised 
to  the  sky-light  overhead,  as  if  wooing  inspiration.     One  in  particular 


Ah.  M.]  "TONGUES."  291 

looked  very  wild.  His  face  was  flushed,  and  he  occasionally  turned  up 
the  white  of  his  eyes  in  an  ominous  style.  For  the  most  part,  however, 
his  eyes  were  shut.  Just  as  Irving  reached  the  point  I  have  mentioned 
and  was  explaining  the  ouches  ;  this  elder  of  ye  church  who  sat  in  the 
chair  marked  P  on  page  48,  burst  out  in  a  sort  of  wild  ejaculution,  thus  : 
'  Taranti-hoiti-faragmi-santi  '*;  '  O  ye  people — ye  people  of  ye  Lord, 
ye  have  not  the  ouches — ye  have  not  the  ouches-ha-a-a  ;  ye  must  have 
them — ye  must  have  them-ha-a-a;  ye  cannot  hear — ye  cannot  hear!" 
This  last  was  spoken  in  a  pretty  loud  whisper;  as  the  inspiration  died 
away  within  him.  "When  he  began,  Irving  suspended  his  exposition  and 
covered  his  face  with  his  hands.  As  soon  as  the  voice  ceased,  he  re- 
sumed the  thread  of  his  discourse,  till  the  '  tongue'  broke  out  again  '  in 
unknown  strains.'  After  these  had  again  come  to  an  end,  Irving  knelt 
and  prayed,  thanking  God  for  looking  upon  the  poverty  and  desolaiion 
of  his  church  amidst  her  persecutions.  After  he  had  finished  and  arisen 
from  his  knees,  he  dropped  down  again  saying — '  one  supplication 
more ' — or  '  one  thanksgiving  more.'  He  now  proceeded  to  implore 
the  Divine  blessing  on  the  servant  who  had  been  ordained  as  a  prophet 
in  the  sight  of  the  people.  After  this  supplementary  prayer,  he  stood  up, 
asked  a  blessing  in  a  few  words,  and  began  to  read  in  the  6th  John  about 
feeding  on  Christ's  flesh.  In  the  course  of  his  remarks,  he  said — "The 
priests  and  churches  in  our  day  have  denied  the  Saviour's  flesh,  and  there- 
fore cannot  feed  upon  him.  '  He  then  prayed  again  (with  genuflexion) 
after  which  he  dropped  into  his  chair,  covered  his  face  with  his  hands 
and  said  — '  Hear,  now,  what  the  elders  have  to  say  to  you.'  No 
sooner  was  this  signal  given  than  the  '  tongue'  began  anew,  and 
for  several  minutes  uttered  a  flat  and  silly  rhapsody,  charging  the  church 
with  unfaithfulness  and  rebuking  it  therefor.  The  '  tongue'  having 
finished,  an  elder  who  sat  above  him  rose,  with  Bible  in  hand,  and 
made  a  dry  but  sober  speecli  about  faith,  in  which  there  was  nothing, 
I  believe,  outre.  The  handsome,  well-dressed  man,  whom  I  have  men- 
tioned, atlrving's  left  hand,  now  rose  and  came  forward  with  his  Bible. 
His  first  words  were — '  Your  sins  which  are  many  are  forgiven  you.' 
His  discourse  was  incoherent,  though  not  wild,  and  had  reference  to  the 
persecutions  of  the  church.  The  last  preacher  on  the  occasion  was  a 
decent,  ministerial  looking  man  in  black,  who  discoursed  on  oneness  with 
Christ.  A  paper  was  now  handed  to  Irving  which  he  looked  at,  and 
then  fell  upon  his  knees.  In  the  midst  of  his  prayer  he  took  the  paper 
and  read  it  to  the  Lord,  as  he  would  have  read  a  notice.     It  was  a 

*  I  do  not  pretend  to  recollect  the  words.    — J.  A.  A. 


292  COACH-RIDE    FROM   OXFORD.  [1833. 

thanksgiving  by  Harriet  Palmer  for  the  privilige  of  attending  on  these 
services  to  day.  After  the  prayer,  they  sang  a  Psalm,  and  then  the 
meeting  was  dismissed  by  benediction.  The  impression  made  on  my 
mind  was  one  of  nnmingled  contempt.  Everything  which  fell  from  Irv- 
ing's  lips  was  purely  flat  and  stupid,  without  a  single  flash  of  genius,  or 
the  slightest  indication  of  strength  or  even  vivacity  of  mind.  I  was  con- 
firmed in  my  former  low  opinion  of  him  founded  on  his  writings.  Mr. 
Notr,,  who  knew  him  when  he  was  in  Glasgow,  says  that  his  first  eclat 
in  London  was  owing  to  the  notes  which  he  had  taken  of  Dr.  Chalmers' 
convers  itim ;  and  that  when  he  was  cast  upon  his  own  resources,  he 
appeared  in  his  real  character  as  a  dunce.  Dr.  Cox  and  I  flattered  our- 
selves that  he  observed  us,  and  preached  at  us.  I  saw  him  peeping 
through  his  fingers  several  times,  and  I  suppose  he  was  not  gratified  to 
see  us  gazing  steadfastly  at  him  all  the  time,  for  he  took  occasion  to 
tell  the  people  that  it  would  profit  them  nothing  without  the  circum- 
cision of  the  ear.  This  he  defined  to  be  the  putting  away  of  all  im- 
pertinent curiosity  and  profane  inquisitiveness — all  gazing  and  prying 
into  the  mysteries  of  God,  and  all  malicious  reporting  of  his  doings 
in  the  church.  "We  were,  afterwards,  given  to  understand  that  one  of 
the  elders  was,  probably,  the  lion.  Spencer  Percival." 

The  ride  in  the  stage  coach  from  Oxford  was  a  very  pictu- 
resque and  agreeable  incident  to  look  back  to.     He  says : 

"You  never  see  here,  as  in  America,  a  long  string  of  stages;  but 
there  is  a  perpetual  succession  of  coaches  ;  so  that  you  can  choose  your 
hour  in  almost  every  ca-e.  I  do  not  know  how  many  passed  the  Mitre, 
bound  either  to  or  from  London,  while  I  was  waiting;  and  you  must 
recollect,  my  dear  readers,  that  an  English  stage  coach  under  sail  is  a 
majestic  sight.  The  number  of  passengers  above,  below  and  around; 
the  pile  of  luggage  on  the  rooffand  the  tremendous  speed  at  which  tliey 
are  driven,  make  these  vehicles  a  really  sight-worthy  spectacle.  At 
length  the  Union  arrived,  but  to  my  dismay  the  inside  was  full.  This, 
however,  is  not  so  shocking  in  England  as  in  America,  where  much 
disappointment  would  be  seriously  felt.  The  bookkeeper  of  the  coach 
office  assured  me  that  the  next  coach  would  be  along  in  fifteen  minutes; 
and  so  it  was.  There  were  only  a  gentleman  and  lady  inside,  so  that  I 
got  in  very  comfortably.  Off  we  went  at  a  tremendous  rate,  over  the 
Oxford  pavement ;  our  guard  shaking  the  houses  with  his  trumpet.  The 
silent  but  well  lighted  streets  through  which  we  rattled,  and  the  moon- 


Mt.21.)  DASHING   COACHMAN.  293 

lit  fields  through  "winch  we  afterwards  glided,  made  me  quite  romantic 
till  sleep  overcame  me,  and  I  dreamed  of  home." 

Here  is  a  pen-and-ink  drawing  of  the  clashing  coachman 
who  gave  hirn  the  best  notion  he  has  ever  had  of  the  character 
of  Jehu. 

"  Our  coachman  was  of  a  different  class  from  those  I  had  seen — 
younger,  more  dashing,  and  extremely  reckless  in  his  air  and  manner. 
In  driving  he  was  a  perfect  Jehu ;  indeed,  I  never  entered  into  Jehu's 
character  before.  The  coach  horses  are  invariably  spirited,  and  there 
is  always  (at  least  so  far  as  I  have  seen)  one  that  is  ungovernable :  this 
is  obvious  from  the  cautious  manner  in  which  the  vicious  horse  is 
brought  out  and  put  into  the  harness,  and  the  mysterious  hints  which 
are  given  to  the  coachman  by  the  hostlers  and  '  horsers.'  Again,  if 
there  is  any  delay  between  the  gearing  of  the  horses  and  the  starting 
coach,  two  men  at  their  heads  can  scarcely  hold  them  at  all.  "When 
they  do  start,  it  is  all  at  once  and  fortissimo.  "When  any  of  the  steeds 
begins  to  play  the  fool,  the  coachman  increases  their  speed,  and  brings 
them  to  reason  by  galloping  up  hill." 

"  On  the  way  we  took  up  an  old,  old  man,  and  when  he  alighted 
a  woman  had  to  take  him  in  her  arms.  A  toll-gate  tacksman  put  his 
wife  into  the  coach.  '  Who's  that,  Jeremy  ?'  said  the  coachman.  '  A 
friend  of  mine,'  quoth  he.  '  She's  na  rinnin  awa  yet  ? '  '  Na.' 
Between  two  and  three  we  hove  in  sight  of  Edinboro'.  Villas  and 
country  seats  began  to  make  their  appearance,  and  through  the  haze 
which  hung  upon  the  atmosphere  we  began  to  discern  the  steeples  of 
'Auld  Reekie.'  I  shall  make  no  attempt  to  describe  my  first  impres- 
sions. I  felt  as  if  I  were  in  another  world.  Hills,  valleys,  gardens, 
palaces — all  brought  together!  The  castle  frowning  from  its  cliff,  the 
unfinished  Parthenon  on  Calton  Hill,  the  splendid  churches,  and  the 
long,  lofty  ranges  of  stone  building — well,  what  of  them?     Nothing." 

He  saw  an  odd  thing  in  Edinburgh  to  which  he  thus  refers  : 

"  The  first  projecting  house,  a  little,  old,  low  and  narrow  one,  was 
once  the  residence  of  John  Knox,  whose  image  and  superscription  are 
still  upon  the  wall,  with  the  date  of  his  birth  and  death,  and  the  nnme 
of  God  in  Greek,  Latin  and  English.  It  is  now  occupied  by  a  fashiona- 
ble hairdresser  and  wigmaker ! ! !  named  Dryden ! !  I 

It  would  be  tedious  to  follow  him  through  mazes  which 


294  VISITS    PROF.  LEE.  [1838. 

have  been  exhausted  by  the  guidebooks.  I  prefer  to  retain 
the  following  vivid  description  of  the  celebrated  view  from 
Calton  Hill: 

"  I  now  left  Holyrood,  and  ascended  Calton  Hill  by  an  elegant  car- 
riage road,  -winding  spirally  around  it.  Every  turn  presented  a  new 
scene,  or  a  modification  of  it,  but  from  tbe  top  I  bebeld  one  of  unspeakable 
magnificence.  On  one  side  lay  the  New  Town  like  a  map,  regular,  spa- 
cious, splendid,  interspersed  with  trees  and  gardens;  on  another  stretched 
the  hills  of  Fife,  the  Frith  of  Forth,  and  the  German  Ocean ;  on  another 
lay  a  beautiful  slope  of  rich  and  cultivated  lands,  bounded  by  lofty 
mountains.  Last  but  not  least,  I  had  before  me  the  Old  Town,  magnifi- 
cent 'Auld  Reekie.'  The  New  Town  is  very  noble  in  its  way,  and  equal 
to  any  other  place  I  ever  saw ;  but  if  it  were  demolished,  the  old  town 
would  be  a  wonder  still.  The  total  absence  of  wood  and  brick,  tho 
loftiness  of  the  house*,  and  the  inequalities  of  the  ground,  reader  it  strik- 
ing to  the  eye  beyond  description.  I  am  a  fool  to  say  as  much  as  I  do 
about  it." 

His  visit  to  the  house  of  Professor  Lee,  the  late  orientalist, 
should  not  be  omitted.  He  was  directed  thither  by  the  coach- 
porters. 

"The  situation  is  a  very  pleasant  one — retired  but  not  remote.  A 
genteel  servant  lad  opened  the  door,  and  carried  up  my  name;  he  then 
returned  and  conducted  me  into  the  study.  A  moment  after  the  Pro- 
fessor came  in,  dressed  in  cap  and  gown  ;  he  read  Mr.  Home's*  letter, 
asked  me  a  few  questions,  and  then  invited  me  to  walk  with  him  to  the 
Library,  which  he  said  would  close  very  soon.  On  the  way  he  talked 
about  German  theology,  Professor  Stuart,  Gesenius,  &c,  &c.  In  the 
Library  he  showed  me  the  Beza  MS.  While  I  was  looking  at  it,  a  man 
came  up  and  said  :  '  Professor  Lee,  will  you  please  to  step  to  the  Vice- 
Chancellor's? '  'Bless  me,'  said  he,  '  I  quite  forgot  it.'  He  then  asked 
a  librarian  in  attendance  to  show  me  the  Burckhardt  MSS.,  and  went 
off,  saying  that  he  would  return  in  a  few  minutes.  I  saw  no  more  of 
him.    We  were  soon  after  turned  out,  and  the  doors  shut." 

From  England  he  passed  over  into  France.  He  was  much 
impressed  with  what  he  believed  to  be  the  genuine  politeness 

*  Author  of  the  "  Introduction." 


Mt.  24. j  LAFAYETTE.  295 

of  the  French.     On  the  road  from  Calais  to  Paris  they  were 
surprised  by  an  invasion  of  French  beggars. 

"  On  setting  out,"  lie  says,  "  we  were  assaulted  by  a  host  of  beggars. 
Sucb  an  assortment  of  cripples,  dwarfs,  '  malheureux'  and  'affliges,' 
I  never  saw  before.  The  French  beggars,  however,  are  nothing  like 
the  English.  The  former  are  so  amusing  that  I  laugh  all  the  time  they 
are  addressing  me ;  they  look  as  if  they  were  joking  and  ready  to  burst 
into  a  laugh.  At  last,  we  got  off.  As  we  drew  nearer  to  Paris,  our 
postillions  became  more  and  more  grotesque.  Once  during  every  stage 
they  stop  before  an  inn,  and  a  dram  is  brought  them,  of  about  a  table- 
Bpoonful  of  brandy.  Some  took  cider  in  preference,  and  one  pure 
water.  The  conductor  drank  nothing  but  beer,  except  a  little  wine  at 
dinner.  In  the  night  we  passed  through  Clermont,  where  Massillon 
was  bishop;  soon  after  which  I  fell  asleep." 

Few  things  in  his  journal  are  more  interesting  than  the 
following  description  of  a  call  he  made  upon  old  Gen.  Lafayette. , 
He  had  learned  from  a  Mr.  Curtis  that 

"  Gen.  Lafayette  intended  to  leave  town  to-morrow,  for  which  cause 
he  and  Mr.  Adams  urged  me  to  go  and  deliver  my  letter.  I  accord- 
ingly hired  a  cab  by  the  hour,  and  drove  first  to  Meurice's ;  where  I 
paid  my  bill ;  the  man  refusing  to  take  the  fraction  as  a  franc  (five  sous) 
I  then  went  to  No.  6  rue  d'Anjou,  St.  Honore,  and  held  the  following 
dialogue  with  the  porteress :  '  Est-ce  l'hotel  du  General  Lafayette  ? > 
'  Non,  monsieur,  il  demeure  ici,  mais  l'hotel  n'est  pas  a  lui.'  '  Mais 
est-il  ici  V  '  Oui,  monsieur,  montez  au  gauche.'  I  mounted  au  gaucho 
accordingly,  and  rang  a  bell.  The  door  was  opened  by  a  servant,  who 
informed  me  that  the  General  could  not  be  seen;  but  the  next  moment, 
asked  whether  I  was  an  American.  On  hearing  that  I  was,  he  said  : 
'Entrez  done,  monsieur,  cntrez,'  and  ushered  me  through  a  vacant 
apartment  into  another,'  where  about  a  dozen  people  were  seated. 
These,  I  found,  were  persons  who  had  appointments  with  the  General. 
They  were  mostly  plain,  common-looking  people ;  one  was  a  soldier, 
and  one  a  woman.  The  rule,  'First  come,  first  served,'  was  very  rigidly 
observed.  "While  one  was  in  the  '  presence,'  the  master  of  ceremonies 
would  ask  the  next  his  name,  and  then  announce  it  as  he  entered.  I 
waited  at  least  an  hour;  had  I  foreseen  what  happened  I  should  not 
have  gone  at  all,  but  when  once  there  I  was  resolved  to  get  something 
for  my  pains.  Once,  indeed,  I  did  propose  to  leave  the  letter,  saying 
that  perhaps  it  was  too  late  for  the  General  to  receive  me,but  the  major- 


296  A   VISIT.  [1833. 

domo  said:  'Non,  non ;  c'est  egal;  vous  allez  entrez  tout  a  l'heur.' 
At  last  my  turn  came,  and  he  took  Mr.  Rives' s  letter  in.  A  few  minutes 
after  he  came  out,  and  invited  me  to  enter.  I  passed  through  another 
vacant  room  into  the  General's  bedroom :  as  I  entered,  he  was  tottering 
towards  an  inner  door,  to  shut  it.  When  he  turned  round  he  advanced, 
took  me  by  the  hand,  and  placed  me  on  the  sofa  where  he  sat  himself, 
saying  that  he  was  very  much  pleased  to  see  me.  '  How  long  are  you 
in  Paris,  Mr.  Alexander? '  I  wish  to  preserve  as  much  of  his  conversa- 
tion as  I  can.  '  Did  you  leave  your  father  and  other  friends  at  Princeton 
well  ? '  I  then  said  that  I  supposed  he  remembered  Princeton  very  well. 
'  Yes,  indeed,'  said  he,  '  many,  many  years  before  you  were  born.  I 
don't  know  whether  you  remember,  but  when  I  came  to  Princton  I 
found  my  diploma  signed  by  Dr.  Witherspoon :  it  had  been  waiting  for 
me  forty  years;  and  it  was  publicly  delivered  to  me.'  'Yes,'  said  I, 
'and  I  was  present;  I  was  a  boy  at  school.'  He  then  made  me  many 
offers  of  service,  and  on  my  asking  how  I  could  get  into  the  Chamber 
of  Peers  he  wrote  me  a  letter  to  the  Count  de  Somerville,  Grand  Rele- 
rendaire  of  the  Chamber,  requesting  him  to  give  me  a  ticket.  When  I 
rose  to  go  he  shook  hands  with  me,  and  said  he  would  be  happy  to  do 
me  any  service  when  I  came  to  Paris  again.  He  also  requested  me,  on 
my  return  to  America,  to  give  his  respects  to  my  father  and  his  other 
friends  at  Princeton." 

The  General  did  not  forget  his  promise  to  his  Princeton 
visitor. 

"  I  was  just  dressed  when  some  one  knocked  at  my  door,  and  in 
came  Mr.  Dunscomb  Bradford  (Acting  American  Consul)  with  a  letter 
from  General  Lafayette,  who  has  been  searching  in  vain  for  my  address, 
which  I  did  not  give  him,  as  I  thought  that  he  was  going  out  of  town: 
The  letter  was  directed :  'A  Monsieur  Joseph  Addison  Alexander,  a 
Paris.'  It  enclosed  a  note  with  these  words  in  the  General's  own  hand : 
'Gen'l  Lafayette's  compliments  to  Mr.  Alexander,  and  sends  him  a 
diplomatic  ticket  for  the  Chambre  des  Paris — friday  evening."  With, 
in  this  note  there  was  another  in  these  words:  'Les  huissiers  et  gar- 
diens  proposes  a  la  Chambre  des  paris  introduiront  dans  la  tribune 
diplomatique  jusqu'a  la  fin  de  la  session  Monsieur." 

One  day  after  visiting  the  flower  garden  of  St.  Denis,  and 
other  places  of  interest,  he 

"Repaired  to  the  fountain  of  the  Palais  Royal,  where  I  was  soon 


Mt.u.1  RELIGIOUS    SERVICE.  297 

after  joined  by  Mr.  Jenks,  and  we  went  together  to  the  Ecole  Royale  des 
Langues  Orientales  Vivantes.  There  we  sat  and  tattled,  'till  Monsieur 
Caussin  Percival  came  in,  Mr.  Jenks  reciting  to  him  in  vulgar  Arabic. 
The  other  two  pupils  did  not  come.  I  then  went  with  Mr.  Jenks  to  his 
lodgings  in  the  rue  la  Pelletiere.  There  he  showed  me  some  Turkish 
firmans." 

One  Sunday  in  Paris  he  heard  Mr.  "Wilkes  preach  from  the 
words — 

'  The  foxes  have  holes,'  &c.  "  He  arrived  at  11  o'clock  last  night. 
His  prayers  were  beautiful,  and  his  discourse  though  rambling  con- 
tained some  noble  passages.  TVe  were  introduced  to  him  after 
sermon.  Mr.  Stoddard  and  I  now  proceeded  to  the  Palais  Eoyal  and 
dined  at  Perigord's.  We  then  went  to  No.  9  rue  de  Clery,  where  I 
sat  with  Mr.  Stoddard  until  half  past  7,  when  we  went  to  the  Oratoire, 
and  heard  M.  Monod  expound  the  preface  and  first  petition  of  the 
Lord's  Prayer.  He  is  wonderfully  brisk  and  rapM  in  all  that  he 
says  and  does ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  is  the  most  '  efficient ' 
man  among  the  evangelicals.  He  is  also  clear  and  earnest  in  dis- 
course ;  but  quite  inferior  to  Audubez  in  unction,  and  to  Grandpierre 
In  eloquence." 

Here  is  an  account  of  a  Church  in  Munich,  and  of  the  man- 
ners of  the  Roman  Catholic  worshippers  : 

"By  the  way,  we  went  into  the  'Students'  Church,'  or  University 
chapel,  and  saw  a  part  of  the  High  Mass  service.  It  is  the  only  plain 
Catholic  church  that  I  ever  saw.  The  music  was  grand.  I  never 
heard  fiddles  and  trumpets  used  in  worship  before.  The  German 
Catholics  enter  into  the  imposture  with  more  intensity  of  feeling  than 
any  others.  The  lower  people  whom  I  see  in  the  churches  here,  seem 
to  go  through  their  performances  with  a  sort  of  solemn  enthusiasm. 
I  saw,  too,  in  one  of  the  churches,  a  card  suspended  on  which  was 
painted  an  apostrophe  to  the  worshippers.  It  was  really  affecting,  and 
displayed  a  degree  of  earnestness  and  tenderness  very  unlike  the  hollow 
barrenness  of  Popish  Christianity  as  I  have  seen  it  elsewhere.  One 
sentence  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  ran  thus :  '  God  have  mercy  upon  you, 
poor,  forsaken,  unhappy  souls.  The  merciful  God  have  mercy  upon 
you  for  the  sake  of  the  mortal  anguish  (Augst  der  Blutsch  witzender 
Jesus.)  '    This  last  phrase  cannot  be  translated." 


298  TRAVELLING    COMPANIONS.  [1833. 

What  is  next  to  bo  related  took  place  on  or  near  the  ter- 
race of  the  Cathedral  Church  at  Berne. 

"  While  I  was  looking  at  the  edifice,  a  young  man  of  intelligent  coun- 
tenance, but  rather  beggarly-dressed,  accosted  me  in  French  and  talked 
about  the  architecture  of  the  church.  As  he  proceeded  to  ask  me 
questions  about  the  town,  I  told  him  that  I  was  a  stranger — '  You  are 
a  Frenchman,  perhaps? '  'No.'  ;  A  German?'  'No.  I  come  further 
than  that.'  'Further  than  that?  Are  you  Prussian?'  'No,  further 
than  that.'  'From  Eussia?'  '  Further  than  that.'  He  next  guessed 
America,  but  could  hardly  believe  that  I  was  born  there,  as  I  seemed 
to  him  too  white.  He  asked  me  a  number  of  questions  about  America, 
and  then  informed  me  that  he  was  a  mechanicien,  but  was  familiar  with 
all  branches  of  science.  He  drew  from  his  pocket  two  drafts  and  ex- 
planations of  inventions  of  his  own.  He  is  travelling  through  Switzer- 
land on  foot,  he  says,  spending  his  father's  money." 

On  Thursday  the  fh-st  of  August  he  found  a  place  in  a 
coach  going  to  Lausanne  by  the  way  of  Freyburg.  His  own 
account  is  graphic : 

"  I  had  scarcely  taken  my  seat  when  the  Englishman  arrived;  and  it 
was  well  that  I  knew  him  to  be  such,  for  I  should  never  have  guessed 
it.  He  was  a  tall,  thin,  sickly-looking  young  man  with  a  large  mous- 
tache and  a  complexion  darker  than  that  of  Italy  or  Spain.  I  broke 
the  ice  at  once.  'Do  you  speak  English,  sir?'  'Yes  sir;  are  you 
English  ? '  '  No,  I  am  an  American.'  '  Oh,  that  is  the  same  thing.'  I 
was  as  much  struck  with  the  dignified  mildness  of  his  manners,  as  I 
had  been  with  the  color  of  his  skin.  But  he  soon  explained  both  by 
saying,  that  he  had  served  six  years  in  the  East  Indies,  had  come  home 
with  the  liver  complaint,  and  was  travellingfor  his  health.  I  have  never 
met  with  a  military  man  since  I  came  to  Europe  who  was  not  a  gentle- 
man. It  is  a  fact  that  even  the  common  soldiers  are  particularly  gentle 
and  obliging  in  their  manner  when  accosted.  My  new  acquaintance 
pleased  me  particularly  well.  He  talked  some  Hindostanee,  and  an- 
swered many  questions  which  I  put  respecting  India." 

While  in  Geneva  he  wrote  an  immense  sheet  upon  every 
sort  of  topic  to  his  brother  James,  in  a  hand  wonderfully  minute 
and  compact,  which  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  few  extant  speci- 
mens of  his  writing  in  the  old-fashioned  free  and  easy,  collo- 


JEt.24.]  LETTER.  299 

quial,  epistolary  style.  In  the  course  of  it  he  takes  occasion 
to  refer  to  his  growing  attachment  to  republican  institutions 
and  to  Presbyterian  government ;  and  then  descants  upon  the 
manners  of  John  Bull,  European  music,  an  old  Swiss  beggar, 
the  transcendental  philosophy,  the  Munich  library ;  and  in  art- 
lessly pathetic  terms,  acknowledges  his  unabated  love  and 
frequent  prayers  for  his  correspondent.  Some  of  Gray's  let- 
ters when  abroad  are  not  wholly  unlike  this.  There  are 
remarkable  revelations  of  character  and  disposition  in  this 
letter.  I  can  give  but  a  part  of  this  interesting  document, 
which  bears  date  Geneva,  August  14th,  1833. 

"  My  Dear  Beotiiek  : 

Though  1  have  just  dispatched  a  sort  of  catholic 
epistle  to  the  family  at  large,  yourself  included,  you  will  not,  methinks, 
object  to  a  more  specific  personal  address.  Your  letter,  dated  June  26, 
I  have  read  repeatedly,  and  thank  you  kindly  for  the  news  and  coun- 
sels which  it  furnislies.  There  is  a  vein  of  melancholy  feeling  running 
through  it  which  at  first  affected  me  by  sympathetic  contagion  ;  but  I 
soon  recovered.  On  some  points  where  we  once  agreed,  we  agree  no 
longer;  and  among  the  number  there  are  two  at  least  which  have  to 
do  with  your  epistolary  sadness.  In  the  first  place,  I  have  got  new 
feelings  with  respect  to  politics.  I  no  longer  look  at  the  details  of  our 
democracy  with  shame  or  loathing.  I  have  dismissed  the  habit  of 
regarding  our  republic  as  the  certain  prey  of  premature  destruction. 
The  other  point  on  which  my  feelings  have  experienced  a  change  is 
Presbyterianism.  Everything  that  I  have  seen  in  England,  Scotland, 
France  and  Switzerland,  gives  a  rational  confirmation  to  my  hereditary 
confidence,  and  thus  converts  a  prejudice  into  a  strong  conviction. 
Look  at  the  various  systems  of  church  polity,  and  inquire  to  what 
extremes  they  run,  and  you  will  find  these  various  and  opposite  ex- 
tremes, almost  without  exception,  shunned  and  remedied  by  scriptural 
Presbyterianism.  The  extremes  of  clerical  and  popular  power,  the 
extremes  of  strict  and  loose  communion, the  extremes  of  pomp  and  mean- 
ness as  to  formSjthe  extremes  of  rigor  and  license  as  to  doctrine,  the 
extremes  of  superstition  and  irreverence  as  to  sacred  things,  the  extremes 
of  learning  without  piety,  and  the  converse,  among  ministers— all  these 
are  held  at  arm's  length  by  the  wise  yet  simple  constitution  of  our 
church. 

''Two  nights  after  my  arrival  at  Geneva,  having  spent  the  daylight 


300  SINGING    SCHOOL.  [1833. 

in  the  public  walks,  I  was  sauntering  homeward,  or  rather  inn-ward, 
when  a  bell  began  to  ring.  Becollecting  that  it  was  the  first  Monday 
in  the  month,  I  imagined  that  some  of  the  evangelicals  might  be  observ- 
ing the  monthly  concert.  I  accordingly  followed,  the  sou-nd,  till  it 
brought  me  to  the  door  of  the  Eglise  de  la  Fusterie,  one  of  the  principal 
city  churches.  The  house  was  lighted,  and  a  number  of  persons  were 
standing  round  the  doors.  '  Qu'est-ce  que  c'est !'  said  I  to  one  of  them. 
'  Monsieur,  c'est  un  chant;  vous  pouvez  bien  entrer.'  The  door  resisted 
my  attempt,  but  a  moment  after  it  was  opened  from  within.  The  door- 
keeper asked  whether  monsieur  was  a  foreigner,  and  invited  him 
to  ascend  into  the  tribune.  Monsieur  ascended  accordingly,  and 
looking  down,  saw  the  body  of  the  church  filled  with  well  dressed 
men  and  boys,  while  a  great  number  of  ladies  were  collected  round 
the  pulpit.  Over  the  'clerk's  desk'  was  a  large  blackboard  with  a 
piece  of  music  scored  in  chalk.  Before  it  stood  a  man  with  a  long 
stick  in  his  hand,  with  which  he  touched  every  note  as  it  Avas  sung. 
I  said  to  myself,  'This  is  noble — a  congregational  singing-school 
on  a  splendid  scale.  It  was  not  in  vain  that  Farel  and  Calvin  insisted 
on  the  introduction  of  psalmody.'  I  was  more  and  more  delighted 
as  I  watched  the  skilful  and  efficient  manner  in  which  the  leader 
managed  the  performance;  he  did  not  sing  himself,  but  beat  time  for 
the  whole,  by  occasional  directions,  by  clapping  his  hands,  stamping 
his  feet,  &c,  regulated  the  forte  and  piano  to  perfection.  "When  a  mis- 
take was  made  he  stopped  them  and  corrected  it.  Nothing  that  I  ever 
read  or  heard  went  half  so  far  towards  making  me  believe  that  a  whole 
congregation  might  be  taught  to  sing.  Here  was  the  proof  auricular 
and  ocular  before  mo,  and  as  I  listened  to  the  majestic  swell  of  that 
majestic  instrument,  the  human  voice,  I  asked  myself  why  the  paltry 
organ  above  the  pulpit  was  not  thrown  out  of  the  window.  I  even 
went  so  far  as  to  premeditate  an  article  for  the  Presbyterian,  lauding 
the  zeal  with  which  the  modern  Genevese,  from  infancy  to  hoary  hair, 
apply  themselves  to  psalmody,  and  calling  upon  the  Christians  of  America 
to  follow  their  example. 

"  My  illusion  was  dispelled  by  a  young  man  who  sat  by  me  in  the 
gillery,  and  politely  offered  me  half  of  his  music-book.  This  encour- 
aged me  to  talk ;  so  I  asked  him  whether  it  was  an  ordinary  thing. 
He  said,  'yes,  it  took  place  every  week.'  'It  is  for  the  service  in  the 
church  ? '  said  I  interrogatively.  '  Oh,  non,  monsieur,'  said  he,  with  a 
look  of  surprise.  He  then  proceeded  to  inform  me  that  about  two 
months  ago  a  society  was  formed  here  for  the  purpose  of  learning  and 
practising  the  national  songs  of  Switzerland ;  that  the  number  of  mem- 


.Ex.  24.]  SWISS    SONGS.  301 

bers  was  about  twelve  bundred,  and  that  this  was  one  of  their  weekly 
meetings.  Though  such  an  association  would,  in  other  circumstances, 
have  interested  me  deeply,  I  was  so  disappointed  on  discovering  my 
mistake,  that  I  felt  disposed  to  slight  the  whole  affair.  I  might  as  well 
have  felt  disposed  to  walk  on  my  head ;  for  in  a  few  minutes  they 
dispatched  their  evening's  task,  and  began  to  sing  some  airs  which  they 
had  previously  learned.  The  words  of  the  songs,  the  wild  pathos  of  the 
melodies,  the  richness  of  the  harmony,  the  appearance  of  the  people, 
the  historical  associations,  mixed  together,  formed  a  compound  that 
was  really  intoxicating.  What  shall  I  say?  1  will  have  the  magna- 
nimity to  leave  it  undescribed.  One  of  the  choruses  sank  so  deep  into 
my  ears  and  brains,  that  I  can  never  forget  it ;  and  if  ever  we  meet 
again  I  engage  to  sing  it  con  aniore  for  your  benefit.  It  is  a  very  good 
specimen  of  the  qualities  which  distinguish  the  Swiss  airs,  and  which  I 
cannot  otherwise  describe  than  by  saying  that  they  are  expressively 
monotonous.  This  is  eminently  true  of  the  Kanz  des  Vaches  which 
I  heard  upou  Mount  Kigi.  It  kept  time  precisely  with  the  jingling  of 
the  cowbells,  and  sounded  as  if  the  minstrel  had  been  making  variations 
to  the  ding-dong.  At  the  same  time  it  was  wild,  plaintive,  and  unearthly. 
I  believe  I  am  talking  about  the  Ranz  des  Vaches,  though  that  is  not 
the  subject  of  my  story.  The  words  of  the  song,  or  rather  chorus, 
which  I  have  engaged  to  sing,  were  these :  '  Serrez  vos  rangs,  enfans  de 
Helvetie  !  Lea  oppresseurs  ne  sauraient  les  ouvrir.  S'il  faut  totnber 
tombons  pour  la  patrie !  Pour  savoir  vivre,  il  faut  savoir  mourir.'  How 
can  the  poor  fellows  who  have  just  gone  off  to  Bale  sing  this  on  the  eve 
of  battle  ?  How  can  they  talk  about  oppressors,  when  their  business  is 
to  separate  two  bands  of  fighting  brethren?  Unhappy  Switzerland ! 
God  grant  her  a  good  deliverance !  As  you  are  gifted  with  a  good  deal 
of  musical  imagination,  I  invite  you  to  employ  it  in  composing  a  tune 
or  tunes  to  the  above  words,  which  shall  be  at  once  monotonous  and 
expressive,  for  the  purpose  of  comparing  your  invention  with  the  real 
air  (unless  you  know  it  already)  when  we  meet  again.  I  have  attended 
a  second  meeting  of  the  Societe  du  Chant  National.  They  did  not  sing 
Serrez  vos  rangs,  but  they  sang  another  air,  wild  and  lively  even  to 
enthusiasm,  containing  a  eulogy  on  Switzerland.  '  Ses  hautes  mon- 
tagnes,  ses  belles  campagnes,  sont  tout  notre  amour.'  This  was  sung 
with  amazing  spirit ;  as  was  another,  a  solemn  fugue,  perhaps  a  dirge,  in 
which  there  was  a  solo  by  a  female  voice,  alternating  with  a  sepulchral 
bass  by  150  voices,  and  terminating  in  a  wild,  musical  shriek  by  all 
the  parts  together.  This  was  the  last  piece,  and  was  followed  by  a 
thunder  of  applause  from  the  performers  themselves,  or  as  a  man  who 


302  VISITS    MERLE.  [1833. 

sat  by  me  explained  it,  '  une  explosion  patriotique.1  I  have  since 
reflected  that  I  was  too  hasty  in  abandoning  my  inchoate  argument. 
Though  this  was  not  a  school  of  psalmody,  it  is  equally  relevant  and 
valid  as  a  proof  of  possibilities.  If  twelve  hundred  respectable  Gene- 
vese,  little  boys,  old  men,  young  girls,  and  ladies  of  a  certain  age,  can 
be  brought  into  the  harness  by  a  mere  feeling  of  romantic  patriotism, 
what  might  not — ought  not  to  be  done  in  the  American  churches  from 
a  sense  of  duty,  joined  with  a  desire  of  rich  enjoyment.  I  have  used 
the  phrase  'romantic  patriotism,' not  without  design.  It  is  a  very 
instructive  fact,  that  in  England  and  America  the  cradle  and  home  of 
freedom,  political  advantages  are  things  of  real  life,  and  are  never  asso- 
ciated with  poetical  imagery;  while  in  France,  the  favourite  country  of 
mock  freedom,  triumphal  arches,  statues,  pictures,  music  and  declama- 
tory fustian  are  the  insignia  of  liberty.  And  in  general  throughout  the 
continent  of  Europe,  men  seem  to  think  more  of  the  name  of  freedom 
than  of  the  tiling  itself.  The  patriotism  that  evaporates  in  song  is  ill- 
adapted  to  contend  with  the  inharmonious  prose  of  tyranny  or  rebellion. 
The  'common  sense'  of  liberty  is  only  known  to  England  and  her 
off-pring — the  haughty  mother  and  the  alienated  child.  Are  we  not 
bound  to  pray  for  England's  welfare?  If  she  should  go  to  destruction, 
what  a  stupendous  shipwreck !  But  there  are  more  than  ten  in  Sodom. 
How  impressive  Wilberforce's  funeral  must  have  been  !  The  great  ones 
did  themselves  more  honor  than  the  dead. 

"But  to  conclude  the  chapter  on  music,  I  proceed  to  state  that  the 
psalmody  of  the  French  churches  is,  to  my  ear,  most  monotonous  and 
insipid.  They  retain  the  old  recitatives  which  are  bound  up  at  the  end 
of  the  French  bibles.  Perhaps  they  sing  the  same  airs  here  as  in  the 
days  of  Farel. 

"  I  suppose  I  mentioned,  in  some  former  letter,  that  M.  Monod,  of 
Paris,  gave  me  a  line  of  introduction  to  Professors  Gaussen  &  Merlet. 
On  applying  at  the  house  of  M.  G.,  I  understood  that  he  was  staying  in 
the  country.  M.  M.  lives  in  the  Eaux  Vives,  a  suburb  of  Geneva.  *  * 
M.  Merle  d'Aubigne  left  his  card  when  I  was  out.  Yesterday  (August 
13th)  I  called  again  at  M.  Gaussen's,  and  found  that  he  was  just  gone 
back  into  the  country.  I  then  set  out  in  search  of  M.  Merle's  abode, 
and  after  asking  directions  of  two  men  and  two  women  in  succession,  I 
arrived  at  his  house,  which  is  beautifully  situated  on  the  water's  edge 
in  full  view  of  the  city,  lake,  and  mountains,  and  surrounded  by  some 
very  pretty  grounds.  Professor  Merle  d'Aubigne  is  a  large,  fine-looking 
man,  between  thirty-five  and  forty,  as  I  guess,  perfectly  French  in  his 
looks  and  manners,  full  of  animation,  and  extremely  courteous. 


^t.24]  LETTER    FINISHED.  303 

*                     *                     *  *"*  *  * 

"  When  I  know  anything  about  Kant  and  his  successors  on  the 
throne,  you  shall  have  it  I  assure  you.  Meantime  I  turn  to  another 
subject  which  is  rather  more  congenial.  I  am  studying  the  Greek 
Testament,  with  no  other  commentary  than  the  skies  and  mountains." 
[Part  of  the  letter  is  torn  away  here]  "  *  *  Alp  is  quite  a  useful  aid 
in  understanding  scripture.  I  am  chewing  upon  the  second  of  Matthew 
with  laborious  rumination.  My  rule  as  to  quantity  is,  as  little  as  possi- 
ble. This  little  I  turn  upside  down  till  every  latent  implication  has 
been  shaken  out  and  every  meaning  brought  to  light.  I  ask  myself 
questions  in  Greek,  and  answer  them  in  the  words  of  the  evangile. 
(This  was  the  mode used  at  Munich,  more  than  once  in  conver- 
sation). *  *  The  references  to  the  0.  T.  strike  me  with  peculiar 
force ;  and  the  Messiahship  of  Christ  looms  very  large  through  the 
prophetic  spy-glass. 

"  It  is  a  fact  which  seems  surprising  to  myself,  that  I  have  never  once 
since  the  10th  of  April  felt  the  absence  of  my  books.  For  once  it  seems 
a  pleasure  to  be  bookless.  Or  rather,  I  happen  to  have  one  which  is 
an  equivalent  for  all.  The  sight  of  the  Munich  Library  made  me  sick  of 
books.  *  *  It  was  oppressive  :  it  was  a  silent  insult  to  the  brevity 
of  life.     The  mind  cannot  be  steady  amidst  half  a  million  magnets. 

"  But  methinks  your  patience  will  be  thoroughly  exhausted.  For- 
give whatever  seems  fantastic,  frivolous,  or  foolish.  I  affect  notbing 
which  I  do  not  at  the  moment  feel.  I  am  cheerful  and  yet  very 
serious!  I  have  reason  to  be  both.  I  thank  you  for  remembering  me 
daily  before  God.  He  may  have  seen  us,  when  we  could  not  see  each 
other,  both  employed  alike.  Christianity  cares  little  for  localities  as  such, 
and  superstition  makes  too  much  of  them.  Yet  as  the  scriptures  have 
allowed  us  to  associate  our  Saviour's  prayers  with  the  brook  Kedron  and 
the  Mount  of  Olives,  why  may  I  not  be  pleased  with  the  reflection  that 
I  have  borne  my  friends  in  mind  upon  the  Thames  and  the  Seine,  the 
Rhine  and  the  Rhone,  the  Iser  and  the  Danube?  Why  may  I  not  say 
that  I  have  prayed  for  thee,  my  brother,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Alps  ? 
May  we  both  go  from  strength  to  strength,  till  we  appear  at  last  to- 
gether on  Mt.  Zion  and  drink  of  the  water  of  the  river  of  life  which 
proceeds  from  the  throne  of  God !  Our  way  may  lie  through  deep 
waters,  but  they  shall  not — they  shall  not  overflow  us !  With  the  ten- 
derest  love  to  all, 

"  Yours  truly, 

"Jos.  Addison  Alexaxdek." 


304  VERSES.  [1833. 

He  thought  Turin  inferior  to  Muuich  and  Philadelphia. 
Even  in  his  travels  he  must  dip  into  a  book  now  and  then. 
Here,  the  book  was  Botta.     He  writes  : 

"  I  have  been  reading  Botta  with  great  satisfaction  ;  I  finished  the 
first  book  to-day.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  I  should  read  the  Stamp 
Act  for  the  first  time  in  this  howling  wilderness  (Pace  tua  Augusta 
Taurinorum  !  ).  I  do  not  admire  Italian.  It  is  very  feeble  and  mawk- 
ish ;  though,  no  doubt,  good  for  music.  How  far  below  Latin  !  I  begin 
to  like  Latin  again." 

The  following  record  is  pleasing  : 

"The  verse  which  I  have  been  studying  to-day  is  Matthew  ii.  10: 
am  astonished  at  the  '  new  light '  which  shines  from  the  lamp  of  life. 
Perhaps  it  looks  brighter  in  consequence  of  the  surrounding  darkness. 
Since  I  wrote  the  last  sentence  I  opened  the  Greek  Testament  and  saw 
these  words: — '"O  e'xeT6  Kparfja-are  «xP'r  ov  civ  17^0.'  I  must  try  to  hold 
my  little  light  fast.  What  a  superlative  language  Greek  is  !  Since  I 
began  it  anew  in  the  spring  of  1829,  and  read  the  Oyropaedia  and  Ana- 
basis through  without  stopping.  I  have  regarded  it  as  the  first  of  earth- 
ly tongues. 

"  Soft  and  gentle  is  thy  hand, 
Shepherd  of  the  chosen  flock ; 
On  the  ocean,  on  the  strand, 

On  the  mountain  and  the  rock. 
Wandering  in  a  foreign  land 
In  perils  oft,  in  sadness  much, 
I  have  felt  it  to  be  such, 
I,  I  have  known  its  soothing  touch. 
(Caetera  desunt.)  " 

Here  are  more  of  his  Italian  verses,  composed  at  Turin  : 

When  with  aching  head  and  heart, 

I  have  laid  me  down  to  rest, 
Melancholy's  poison  dart 

Deeply  planted  in  my  breast : 
A  voice  has  bid  the  fiend  depart ; 

A  hand — what  h  and  I  need  not  say, 

Has  sought  my  anguish  to  allay, 

And  gently  plucked  that  dart  away. 


iBT.24.]  WRITTEN    AT    TURIN.  305 

Sometimes  nature  seems  a  waste  ; 

And  to  my  deluded  eyes 
All  signs  of  beauty  are  effaced, 

From  the  ocean,  earth,  and  skies ; 
While  I  seem  miserably  placed, 

Like  one  upon  a  sea-washed  deck, 

An  undistinguishable  speck 

Amidst  the  universal  wreck. 

But  when  that  gentle  hand  is  laid 

Upon  my  eyes  to  give  them  sight, 
The  world  at  once  appears  arrayed 

In  living  robes  of  liquid  light ; 
As  if  my  sadness  to  upbraid  : 

Kebuked,  amazed,  delighted,  awed, 

On  land  and  sea  I  look  abroad 

And  bless  the  handiwork  of  God. 

Oft  when  I  have  wandered  long, 

Led  by  some  deceitful  star, 
And  pause  for  fear  of  going  wrong ; 

Suddenly  I  hear  afar, 
The  echo  of  the  shepherd's  song : 

The  welcome  and  familiar  sound 

Turns  my  bewildered  feet  around, 

And  guides  them  to  the  pasture  ground. 

And  now  at  length  before  me  lies 

A  valley  dark  and  unexplored  ; 
But  through  the  gloom  ray  soul  descries 

The  stately  steppings  of  her  Lord ; 
I  hasten  on  in  glad  surprise  ; 

Let  life  recede ;  let  death  draw  near. 

I  cannot,  will  not,  dare  not  fear, 

Hip  rod  and  staff  are  with  me  here  ! 

The  thought  that  he  was  nearing  Rome  seems  to  have 
proved  inspiring  to  him ;  or  perhaps  it  was  only  the  unwonted 
cup  of  coffee.  After  conning  over  the  stanzas  given  above, 
he  says : 


306  POEM.  [18S3. 

"  I  then  proceeded  to  compose  the  following,  on  a  theme  which  I 
selected  before  leaving  home,  viz  : 

"Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 
As  this  has  been  thought  one  of  his  noblest  productions  in 
metre,  I  make  no  scruple  to  give  it  without  abridgment.  For 
solemn  grandeur  of  meaning,  and  for  nervous  diction  and 
sonorous  music  he  has  perhaps  not  written  anything  that 
exceeds  it, 

i. 
When  fortune  smiles  and  friends  abound ; 
"When  all  thy  fondest  hopes  are  crowned ; 
"When  earth  with  her  exhaustless  store, 
Seems  still  intent  to  give  thee  more ; 
When  every  wind  aud  every  tide 
Contribute  to  exalt  thy  pride  ; 
When  all  the  elements  conspire 
To  feed  thy  covetous  desire ; 
When  foes  submit  and  envy  stands 
Pale  and  abashed  with  fulded  hands ; 
While  fame's  unnumbered  tongues  prolong 
Tbe  swell  of  thy  triumphal  song ; 
When  crowds  admire  and  worlds  applaud 
"Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 

ii. 

When  crowns  are  sported  with  and  thrones 
Are  rocked  to  their  foundation  stones; 
When  nations  tremble  and  the  earth 
Seems  big  with  some  portentous  birth  ; 
When  all  the  ties  of  social  life 
Are  severed  by  intestine  strife ; 
When  human  blood  begins  to  drip 
Prom  tyranny's  accursed  whip ; 
When  peace  and  order  find  their  graves 
In  anarchy's  tempestuous  waves  ; 
When  every  individual  hand 
Is  steeped  in  crime,  and  every  land 
Is  full  of  violence  and  fraud  ;« 
"  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 


^Et.24.3  POEM.  307 

III. 

When  to  the  havoc  man  has  made 
The  elements  afford  their  aid ; 
When  nature  sickens,  and  disease 
Rides  on  the  wing  of  every  hreeze  ; 
When  the  tornado  in  its  flight 
Blows  the  alarm  and  calls  to  fight ; 
When  raging  Fever  leads  the  van, 
In  the  fierce  onset  upon  man  ; 
When  livid  Plague  and  pale  Decline 
And  bloated  Dropsy,  form  the  line  ; 
While  hideous  Madness,  shivering  Fear 
And  grim  Despair,  bring  up  the  rear  ; 
When  these  thy  judgments  are  abroad  : 
"Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 

IV. 

When  messages  of  grace  are  sent, 
And  mercy  calls  thee  to  repent; 
When  through  a  cloud  of  doubts  aud  feara 
The  Sun  of  Righteousness  appears ; 
When  thy  reluctant  heart  delays 
To  leave  it's  old  accustomed  ways ; 
When  pride  excites  a  storm  within, 
And  pleads  and  fights  for  every  sin  ; 
Be  still,  and  let  this  tumult  cease ; 
Say  to  thy  raging  passions,  "  Peace !  " 
By  love  subdued,  by  judgment  awed  : 
"  Be  still  and  know  that  I  am  God." 

"I  began  another  poem  in  the  night  which  I  did  not  finish.     Le 
voici ! 

i. 

When  by  strong  love  and  sorrow  led, 

The  women  hasten  to  appear 
Where  their  departed  Master's  head 

Was  had  upon  its  rocky  bier, 
Desiring  there  once  more  to  shed 

The  sweet,  but  sweetly  bitter  tear; 

The  joyful  words  which  met  their  ear, 
Though  by  the  lips  of  angels  said, 


308  TRAVELLING   COMPANIONS.  T1833. 

Like  idle  tales  to  them  appear : 
"  He  is  arisen  from  the  dead — 
He  is  not  here  !  " 

ii. 

Yet  when  they  saw  the  cold,  hard  hed, 

For  his  sake  to  their  bosoms  dear  ; 
And  saw  their  Master's  body  fled, 

And  the  cast  grave-clothes  lying  near ; 
They  in  their  turn  to  others  said, 

With  mingled  wonder,  joy,  and  fear : 
"  He  has  arisen  from  the  dead — 

He  is  not  here !  " 

This  is  without  doubt  the  sweetest  and  most  delicate  of  all 
his  scriptural  paraphrases. 

On  the  way  from  Florence  he  had  an  adventure  with  an 
old  priest,  a  young  Franciscan  friar,  and  some  seculars,  the 
account  of  which  is  very  entertaining. 

"After  I  had  waited  an  hour  or  two  the  vettiira  came  to  the  door 
and  I  got  in.  On  the  back  seat  there  was  an  elegant  old  gentleman,  in 
ecclesiastical  costume,  with  a  red  ribbon  round  his  hat.  I  asked  him 
whether  he  spoke  French.  He  answered,  in  Italian,  that  he  had  never 
practised  it.  On  the  seat  opposite  to  him  there  was  a  huge  pile  of 
bundles,  bags,  &c.  He  laughed  and  said  he  had  taken  two  places,  one 
for  himself  and  one  for  his  things.  We  drove  along  the  street  called 
Porta  Rossi ;  and  stopped  before  a  coffee-house,  where  a  boy  got  in 
about  fifteen  years  of  age,  dressed  in  velvet,  which  is  very  common  here 
among  the  lower  orders.  We  stopped  again  before  a  church,  where  a 
young  Franciscan  friar  joined  us  and  a  young  priest.  The  latter  sat 
inside  with  the  old  priest  and  me.  The  Franciscan  and  the  boy  sat  in 
the  cabriolet.  We  did  not  get  away  till  after  12  o'clock.  I  found, 
from  the  conversation  in  the  coach,  that  the  young  priest  was  in  some 
way  dependant  on  the  old  one,  whom  he  treated  with  obsequious 
servility.  His  name  was  Padre  Luigi  (Father  Louis).  The  Fran- 
ciscan's name  was  Padre  Leonardo,  and  the  boy's  Bartolomeo  Novara. 
The  old  man  was  called  'Monsignore '  by  the  others,  so  that  I  did  not 
learn  his  name.  The  boy  was  going  to  a  convent  in  Rome  to  try 
whether  he  would  like  to  be  a  Franciscan.     He  was  from  Genoa,  Padre 


Mi.  24.]  JOURNEY.  309 

Leonardo  from  Port  Maurice  in  Piedmont,  Padre  Luigi  from  Pistoja, 
and  Monsignore  from  Siena.  We  stopped  for  the  night  at  Poggibousi. 
The  old  Priest  and  I  had  rooms  to  ourselves,  the  other  three  'had  one 
between  them.'  We  all  supped  together.  The  two  seculars  were  very 
polite  to  me — the  young  one  officiously  so.  The  old  one  was  truly 
kind  and  fatherly.  I  am  very  certain  that  no  Italian  travelling  in 
America,  would  have  met  with  such  treatment  from  any  two  Protes- 
tant ministers.  The  Franciscan  was  civil  but  unpolished.  The  little 
Genoese  had  all  the  native  grace  of  an  Italian  peasant,  with  a  great 
deal  of  intelligence,  modesty,  and  wit.  The  language  was  like  music 
in  his  mouth.  The  Pistoian  spoke  in  a  very  affected  manner  and  pro- 
nounced c  hard  like  k;  c  soft,  like  sh  ;  cuclno  he  pronounced  kuslieenoy 

Wednesday,  Sept.  4. — They  were  called  at  an  early  hour  and  pro. 
ceeded  on  their  journey.  The  ecclesiastics  spent  a  large  part  of  the 
time  over  their  breviaries.  Their  manner  of  praying,  however,  was  a 
little  odd.  In  the  course  of  the  morning  they  passed  through  Siena, 
and  stopped  before  a  book-store  while  the  old  priest  bought  a  poem 
lately  published.  All  of  us  read  it.  It  was  a  satirical  performance, 
lashing  the  priests  among  others.  The  old  man  made  great  sport  of 
the  Franciscan  during  the  ride  to-day,  asking  him  curious  questions  and 
laughing  about  the  idleness  and  voracity  of  the  monks.  He  also  talked 
a  great  deal  to  Bartolomeo,  in  a  humorous  way,  about  his  turning 
friar.  His  object  seemed  to  be  to  disgust  him  with  the  project,  and  I 
therefore  liked  his  raillery  very  well,  though  it  was  rather  unmerciful 
to  the  poor  Francsican,  who  bore  it  with  great  patience  and  good 
humor.  He  seemed  to  be  an  honest,  sincere,  ignorant  man.  Padre 
Luigi  was  a  prim,  affected,  sly,  hypocritical  sort  of  a  body.  His  busi- 
ness seemed  to  be  to  echo  every  thing  Monsignore  said,  by  adding, 
"  vero,-veramente-sicura-va  bene-si-si-gia-gia."  "We  stopped  at  noon 
to  breakfast  at  a  village  inn.  The  old  gentleman  took  great  pains  to 
ascertain  what  I  would  like,  and  ordered  it  for  me.  "When  it  came 
upon  the  table,  neither  he  nor  the  rest  would  touch  it ;  and  I  found 
that  they  were  fasting,  for  they  ate  nothing  but  milk  broth."  At  night 
they  were  more  complaisant,  for  when  we  stopped  at  San  Quirico,  a 
village  of  Tuscany,  they  ate  meat  very  heartily  for  supper.  A  large 
fine-looking  priest  came  in  while  we  were  at  the  table,  to  pay  his  re- 
spects to  Monsignore.  The  latter,  who  took  all  the  carving  to  himself, 
being  unable  to  divide  a  chicken,  made  the  other  priest,  who  wa? 
sitting  near,  perform  the  operation. 

Thursday,  Sept.  5. — They  were  up  and  off  betimes  again.  AtRadi- 


310  ON   TO   ROME.  [1833. 

cofani,  the  last  town  of  Tuscany,  their  passports  were  signed.  "  The 
officer  was  very  polite  and  inquisitive.  At  an  inn,  some  distance  fur- 
ther, we  stopped  to  breakfast.  I  ate  a  thrush,  (tordella),  Padre  Leo- 
nardo and  Bartolomeo  ate  another,  which  the  old  man  paid  for.  He 
himself  ate  nothing  but  soup,  and  Padre  Luigi,  of  course,  did  likewise. 
The  vetturino  told  me  that  my  goods  would  have  to  be  examined  on 
entering  the  Papal  territories,  and  that  it  would  be  useless  to  fee  the 
officers  because  they  would  examine  none  the  less.  He  also  told  me 
that  the  old  priest  besides  his  trunk  and  chests  outside,  and  his  pile  of 
bundles  inside,  had  the  boxes  under  the  seats  full  of  things  which  (the  man 
said)  he  was  taking  to  Eome  to  sell.  None  of  these,  however,  could  be 
touched,  because  he  had  a  lasc late  passdre  from  the  Koman  government, 
which  is  a  very  hard  thing  to  procure ;  and  sure  enough,  when  we  crossed 
the  line  aad  reached  the  custom-house,  the  old  gentleman  produced  a  pa- 
per, seeing  which  the  officer  backed  out.  The  vetturino  now  came 
round  and  told  me  that  if  I  would  give  something  to  the  fellow,  he 
thought  I  might  escape  too,  under  the  old  man's  wing.  I  accordingly 
inserted  20  cents  into  the  hands  of  the  illustrious  officer,  who  bowed, 
and  we  drove  off.  This  was  a  happy  riddance,  for  I  dreaded  the  inspec- 
tion very  much,  having  heard  that  in  Romagna  they  are  very  trouble- 
some and  captious  in  such  cases.  The  old  gentleman  chuckled  very 
merrily  over  the  affair,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  my  escape  as  much  as  his 
own.  The  first  considerable  town  that  we  passed  through  after  crossing 
the  line  was  Aquapendente ;  where  my  passport  was  sealed  and  I  was 
charged  one  paul,  i.  e.  10  cents  precisely.  The  old  gentleman,  besides 
continuing  his  gibes  at  the  Franciscan,  played  a  practical  trick  upon 
him  toward  the  end  of  our  day's  journey,  which  was  very  amusing,  but 
I  must  not  tell  it  here.  At  supper  he  talked  about  the  British  and  For- 
eign Bible  Society,  and  informed  me  that  he  had  been  in  England,  at 
the  time  when  the  Emperor  of  Russia  and  the  Ring  of  Prussia  were 
there.  He  and  the  other  priests  talked  about  celibacy  and  scholastic 
theology.  Bartolomeo  was  a  favorite  with  us  all.  I  became,  indeed, 
very  much  interested  in  him,  though  we  could  not  talk  together.  His 
speech  was  more  musical  than  any  that  I  have  heard  in  Italy.  The  old 
man  called  him  Fra  Bartolomeo,  and  sometimes  Padre  Bartolomeo. 
His  reverence  seemed  to  know  all  the  tavern-keepers  and  servants  inti- 
mately. Last  night  and  to-night,  at  supper,  the  landlady  came  in  to 
kiss  his  hand.  The  one  last  night  brought  her  daughter  Amabile  in, 
and  made  her  say  l  Buon  appetito,  SignorU  I  feel  much  obliged  to 
the  old  gentleman  for  his  kindness  and  real  politeness  to  me  ;  and,  in 
return  for  it,  I  hereby  certify  that  he  is  the  handsomest  old  man  that  I 


JEt.24]  VIA    CASSIA.  311 

ever  saw.  His  face,  which  is  truly  Koman,  would  grace  an  antique 
medal ;  his  hair  is  white,  and  his  countenance  one  that  indicates  a  long 
life  of  temperance  and  health.  His  complexion,  strange  to  say,  is  very 
fair,  and  his  skin  smooth  as  a  girl's.  He  wears  a  hlue  frock  coat,  black 
breeches  and  gaiters,  and  a  looped  hat  of  peculiar  form  with  a  red  rib- 
bon round  it. 

Friday,  Sept.  6.  It  rained  tremendously  during  the  day  with  occa- 
sional intervals  of  sunshine.  I  like  this,  because  it  tends  to  abate  the 
heat  and  purify  the  air,  and  when  it  does  rain  I  would  rather  be  in  a 
carriage  than  a  tavern.  Our  vettiira,  however,  began  at  length  to  leak ; 
and  on  arriving  at  Viterbo,  Monsignore  found  a  package  of  sugar  which 
was  under  our  bench,  fairly  soaked.  He  laughed  very  heartily  and 
spoke  of  it  twice,  as  a  good  joke.  His  equanimity  seemed  really  im- 
perturable.  At  Viterbo  he  told  the  waiter  that  I  would  probably  like 
some  meat,  but  that  they  would  take  boiled  eggs,  as  it  was  Friday.  I 
ate  a  mutton  chop  at  the  same  table.  We  arrived  at  night  at  Eonsig- 
lione  amidst  a  pouring  rain  and  found  the  tavern  nearly  full.  I  got  a 
room  to  myself,  however,  as  did  the  old  man.  This  has  been  the  case 
throughout  the  journey.  As  the  waiter  was  making  my  bed,  I  asked 
him  whether  lie  knew  the  old  priest — '  Oh,  yes,'  said  he,  '  he  is  a 
bishop.'  'A  bishop!'  said  I,  'bishop  of  what?'  'Of  some  little 
town,'  said  he,  'near  Eome.'  So,  I  have  been  travelling  with  a  bishop 
all  this  time  !     Ecco  !  " 

On  Saturday,  Sept.  7,  the  American  traveller  began  to  perceive  a 
change  in  the  face  of  the  country.  First,  the  corn-fields  disappeared, 
then  the  vineyards,  then  the  trees,  then  the  bushes,  till  at  length  the 
motley  party  in  the  coach  was  surrounded  by  a  scene  of  desolation. 
No  houses,  no  enclosures,  no  cultivation,  no  people  for  miles  together. 
"  "We  were  now  in  the  blighted  regions  of  the  Maulria.  There  was  a 
strong  smell  of  sulphur  during  some  parts  of  the  journey,  proceeding 
from  stagnant  pools.  It  was  like  passing  through  the  vale  of  Siddim. 
Milestones  began  to  make  their  appearance,  and  at  length  we  came  to 
one  on  which  was  written  VIA  CASSIA.  I  began  to  think  of  Viri 
Eomae,  and  grew  sentimental.  The  solemn  dreariness  of  the  surround- 
ing scenery  strengthened  the  impression.  Nor  was  it  diminished  when 
the  bishop  opened  the  window  on  his  side  and  pointing  to  a  weather 
beaten  altar  of  gray  stone,  said — "  Behold  the  tomb  of  Nero  !"  (Ecco  il 
sepoleio  di  Neronec).  After  a  while,  vines  again  made  their  appear- 
ance, and  the  road  began  to  be  skirted  by  elms.  We  ascended  an  emi- 
nence and  saw  a  town.  "  Eoma!"  said  the  bishop.  He  pulled  me  to- 
ward the  window  "  Ecco  il  duomo  di  San  Pietro  !"     It  did  not  strike 


312  THOUGHTS    OF    HOME.  [1833 

me  as  very  grand,  and  I  was  surprised  to  see  it  at  one  end  of  the  town 
instead  of  being  in  the  centre.  We  crossed  the  Tiber  on  the  Pons  Mil- 
vius.  A  scam  of  filth  was  floating  on  its  surface.  The  colour  of  the 
water  is  a  dirty  yellow.  "We  entered  Rome  about  five  o'clock,  through 
the  magnificent  Porta  del  Popolo.  I  again  escaped  the  custom-house 
by  means  of  the  kind,  though  unscrupulous  old  bishop ;  and  thus  I  have 
got  to  Rome  without  having  my  trunk  opened,  a  thing  which  rarely  oc- 
curs to  travellers  in  the  public  conveyances.  I  should,  no  doubt,  have 
lost  some  of  my  books,  as  Frazer  did.  "We  drove  to  the  '  Hotel  del 
l'Europa,  in  the  Piazza  di  Spagna,  where  I  took  up  my  abode.  The 
bishop  and  priest  shook  hands  with  me  very  cordially,  and  the  old  man 
thanked  me  for  my  company.  I  had  not  Italian  enough  to  thank  him 
as  I  wished,  but  he  understood  my  looks.  He  showed  me  to-day  a 
copy  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Society's  Italian  bible  which  he  bought 
in  Florence.  I  wish  that  instead  of  selling  it  he  would  read  it  himself, 
and,  Oh,  that  it  might  convert  him!  And  why  not?  'The  Law  of 
the  Lord  is  perfect  converting  the  soul.'  " 

In  the  coach  he  composed  some  very  striking  and  suggest- 
ive blank  verse.     I  give  the  lines  exactly  as  he  wrote  them  :* 

The  wheels  ran  smoothly  on  the  Itali- 
an road,  and  all  within  was  silent.     Stiffly  braced 
or  carelessly  relaxed,  each  traveller  sat,  and  as  he 
sat  he  slept.     All  slept  save  one,  whose  thoughts 
were  wandering  far  beyond  the  seas  in  sweet 
yet  bitter  musing.     For  a  time  the  ocean  dwindled 
to  a  drop;  and  home — his  father's  fire-side,  and  his 
mother's  form — were  with  him  in  his  exile. 
Even  there  he  felt  himself  at  home  ;  and  well  he 
might.     For  the  resplendent  moon,  which  he 
had  seen  go  down  behind  the  Alps,  was  his 
own  moon,  the  moon  which  he  had  loved 
in  foolish  childhood  ;  and  the  few  bright 
stars  that  still  kept  watch  were 
his  familiar  friends.     The  busy  sprite  who 
had  bewitched  his  eyes,  now  made  his 
ears  to  tingle.     Parting  words,  adieus,  and 
benedictions  crowded  back  like  ghosts 
but  not  to  scare  him.     And  with  these 
mingled  the'  lasts  sounds  which  had 


at.m.1  thoughts  of  home.  ai3 

met  his  ear  as  he  forsook  his  country; 
first  the  hum  of  streets  and  markets,  then 
the  busy  stir  and  bustle  of  the  port  and  last 
the  voice  of  the  impatient  ocean,  as  he 
chafed  against  the  New  "World.     For  the 
wanderer  loved  that  wild  mysterious 
music,  in  its  swell  and  in  its  dying  fall.     To 
him  it  seemed  as  if  the  strings  of  nature 
had  been  swept  by  an  almighty  hand 
and  forced  to  give  their  diapason  forth. 
These  were  his  thoughts  in  days  long  past ; 
and  now  tbat  he  recalled  those  days,  those 
thoughts  returned ;  and  with  them  came  that 

*  *         *         *         the  sound  itself,  that 
old  familiar  sound.     The  coach  stopped  ;  and 

Italy  was  forgotten  and  he  seemed  to  stand  once  more  upon 
his  native  beach.     The  coach  stopped  and  the  thought 
that  he  was  still  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land,  all 
at  once  entered  his  soul  like  iron.     The  coach  went 
on;  and  still  that  sound,        *        *        followed 

*  *        hard  after.     Weary  of  a  dream 
which,  like  the  drunkard's  solace,  only 
soothed  in  order  to  torment ;  he  rubbed  his 
eyes  and  strove  to  be  awake.     But  still  the  voice 
of  Earth  and  Ocean  meeting  filled  his  ears.     He 
is  awake  and  every  other  sense  performs  its 

/")TTlf  f*  *P  *P  T"  *P  *P  ¥ 

*  *        Thanks  be  to  God,  our  senses  are 
contrived  to  disabuse  each  other;  and  as 

oft  the  ear  reproves  the  eye,  so  now  at 
last,  the  stranger  called  his  eyesight  to 
his  aid  ;  and  looking  forth  saw  what?  I- 
talian  vines,  hung  in  festoons  between 
the  trees ;  or  spread  as  a  green  curtain 
over  frames  like  that  which  Moses  reared 
at  Horeb  *        *        *        forming  cool 

delicious  arbours  hung  with  clustering s 

of  gold  and  purple  grapes.     The  scene  was  void 

*  Almost  all  the  verses  which  he  wrote   while  travc  lling  are  written  like 
prose.     Milton  has  written  verses  in  the  same  way. 
14 


314  LEAVE    ROME.  [1833. 

of  foliage  and  of  fruit ;  but  in  its  barrenness 
there  was  a  charm  for  him  who  now 
surveyed  it.     'Twas  the  sea.     Not  a  Swiss 
lake  or  fish-pond,  but  a  sea,  with  its 
blue  convex  surface  reaching  up  to  the 
well  marked  horizon.     Not  a  lake  nor  yet 
the  mighty  ocean  in  its  wild  immensi- 
ty of  compass ;  but  a  sea,  whose  waves 
have  language,  and  whose  ragged  coast  from 
every  inlet  and  projecting  point  sends 
back  the  echo  of  a  thousand  years.     These 
are  the  land-locked  waters  upon  which 
the  old  Phenician  crept  along  the 
coast  with  coward  daring — these  the 
waves,  on  which  Carthaginian 
learned  to  conquer  and  be  conquered. 
It  was  here  that  the  first  plash  of 
Roman  oars  was  heard,  e'er  yet  Duillius 
had  become  a  god    *        *    and  reared 
his  mortal  column.* 

Composed  in  the  coach  between  Viterbo  and  Rome,  Sept. 
7,  1833." 

On  Tuesday,  Sept.  24,  they  were  called  by  the  servant  at  3  o'clock 
in  the  morning.  The  sunrise  was  beautiful,  but  they  were  soon  en- 
veloped in  fog.  They  crossed  the  Po  on  a  pont  volant  and  entered 
the  Austrian  dominions. 

Their  baggage  was  examined  at  the  custom-house  near  the  river, 
and  Dr.  McDonnell,  an  English-speaking  companion,  had  to  leave  a 
trunk  hehind  him.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  the  fog  subsided  and  they 
had  delightful  weather.  They  breakfasted  at  Rorego,  and  dined  at  Pa- 
dua. I  now  quote  again:  "The  road  from  Padua  to  the  sea-side  is 
delightful.  It  is  one  long  street  skirted  with  gardens,  parks,  neat  and 
sometimes  splendid  houses.  The  moon  rose  clear  and  the  night  was 
most  superb.  At  Fusina  we  left  the  diligence  and  got  into  a  boat.  We 
stopped  at  a  military  station  in  the  midst  of  the  water  to  show  our 
passports.     Our  first  view  of  Venice  was  rendered  more  impressive  by 

*  An  allusion  to  the  columne  nostrata.  See  Cicero  Pro  Cu.  25.  Oxon.  p. 
455  and  De  Senect.  13.     Plane.  455. 


^Et.24.]  NEW    CHAIR   IN   THE    COLLEGE.  315 

the  magnificent  moonlight.  We  entered  the  grand  canal  and  passed  under 
the  Rialto.  We  landed  at  the  diligence  office  and  exchanged  our  pass- 
ports for  tickets.  The  Germans  went  to  a  German  inn.  The  priest, 
Dr.  McDonnell  and  I  went  in  the  same  hoat  to  the  Hotel  de  l'Europe, 
hut  did  not  land,  as  it  was  full.  We  then  went  to  the  Hotel  de  Grand 
Bretagne,  where  we  found  two  vacant  rooms — one  with  two  heds,  the 
other  with  one.  The  priest  took  the  latter,  and  we  were  ohliged  to  be 
contented  with  the  former.  It  is  a  very  handsome  one,  with  a  large 
closet  and  a  recess  for  the  beds.  The  floor  is  of  marble.  The  adjoin- 
ing room  is  a  dining-hall  of  magnificent  dimensions.  The  house  ap- 
pears to  have  been  once  a  palace.  I  saw  on  a  card  to-day,  which  was 
attached  to  one  of  my  companion's  trunks,  his  address  thus  given : 
'Rev.  Dr.  MacDonnell,  Bagot  street,  Dublin.'  " 

I  interrupt  the  journal  for  a  moment  to  look  at  an  event  at 
home  which  was  deeply  interesting  to  the  young  traveller. 
On  Thursday,  the  26th  of  September,  the  Rev.  James  W. 
Alexander,  who  was  at  this  time  residing  in  Philadelphia,  and 
editing  the  Presbyterian  and  Biblical  Repertory,  went  for  a 
few  days  to  Princeton,  where  he  was  met  and  informed  that 
he  was  elected  to  the  new  chair  in  Princeton  College,  of 
Belles  Lettres.  He  found  all  comfortably  well  on  his  return 
home  the  next  Monday.  I  copy  the  following  from  a  detached 
slip  marked  "Private  Journal,"  of  date  of  October  1st. 
It  is  in  the  hand  writing  of  the  elder  brother,  and  evidently 
refers  to  the  event  announced  above.  "  I  have  never  had  an  ap- 
pointment which  fell  in  more  with  my  feelings.  During  some 
days  since  I  had  the  first  inkling  of  it.  I  have  prayed  that  the' 
Lord  would  not  suffer  me  to  be  called  unless  it  were  right 
that  I  should  go.  To-day  I  have  been  in  some  pain,  but  blessed 
be  God  I  had  choice  mercies."  On  the  third  he  records  the 
arrival  of  good  news  from  home ;  "  also  a  letter  full  of  happi- 
ness from  my  dear  brother,  J.  A.  A.,  Geneva,  August  1st.  The 
Lord  be  with  thee,  my  brother  !  " 

The  goal  of  the  absent  Professor  was  now  attained,  and 
he  was  soon  to  become  familiar  with  the  daily  life  of  a  German 
University.  His  first  impression  of  Halle  was  not  prepossess- 
ing. 


316  THOLUCK.  [1S33. 

"  Thursday,  Oct.  23. — Here,  as  elsewhere,  my  first  proceeding  has 
been  to  walk  about  the  town  by  myself,  and  get  a  general  notion  of  it. 
This  I  was  the  rather  disposed  to  do  because  1  may  possibly  spend  the 
winter  here.  I  am  incliued  to  think  not,  however,  for  a  dirtier,  mean- 
er, and  more  dismal  town  could  scarcely  have  been  selected  for  the 
seat  of  a  University.  I  saw  but  one  fine  house,  and  on  that  was  in- 
scribed '  Frankens  Stiptinger.'  There  are  a  great  many  idle  children 
playing  in  the  streets.  I  was  assured  at  Leipzig  that  the  lectures  were 
going  on  here ;  but  I  find,  to  my  great  disappointment,  that  they  are 
not  to  commence  for  a  fortnight. 

"  Friday,  Oct.  24. — After  breakfast  I  went  with  a  servant  to  Dr. 
Tholuck's.  The  woman  of  the  house  seemed  as  much  rejoiced  to  hear 
that  I  was  an  Americau  as  if  she  had  been  one  herself.  I  waited  in  a 
little  side  room  till  the  Professor  entered  and  read  Mr.  Hodge's  letter. 
He  thinks  I  ought  to  spend  more  time  at  Berlin  than  at  Halle ;  but 
that  Halle  should  come  first.  He  informed  me  that  there  are  two 
Americans  here — theological  students — a  Mr.  Ilaverstick,  of  Philadel- 
phia, who  has  been  here  a  year;  and  Professor  Sears,  a  Baptist,  who 
came  a  few  weeks  since.  Dr.  Tholuck  sent  his  maid  to  show  me  Mr. 
Sears's  house.  The  woman  there  seemed  likewise  overjoyed  to  see  an 
American.  Mr.  S.  was  not  in,  but  she  told  me  to  come  at  precisely 
12.  I  did  so  but  he  was  still  out.  I  called  again  at  3,  and  found  him 
with  a  lieutenant  who  speaks  English.  After  the  latter  had  gone  Mr. 
Haverstick  arrived.  At  5  they  went  with  me  to  Tholuck's  door,  as  I 
had  promised  to  walk  with  him.  We  took  a  long  walk  out  of  the 
town.  II»  talked  about  the  moon,  about  German  wildness,  about 
Eome,  about  Mr.  Hodge,  about  England,  about  Lee,  about  Mr.  Moller 
of  South  Carolina,  about  Professor  Stuart,  about  his  own  book  on  the 
Bergpredigt,  and  another  which  he  is  writing.  We  returned  to  his 
door  about  6  o'clock.  Mr.  Sears  was  to  have  been  there  to  meet  me. 
As  we  did  not  see  him  Tholuck  went  with  me  to  his  house.  He  was 
not  there,  but  we  met  him  in  an  open  space  behind  the  library,  where 
he  and  Tholuck  walked  up  and  down  talking  about  the  studies  which 
Sears  ought  to  pursue.  Tholuck  invited  me  to  dine  with  him  to-mor- 
row at  1  o'clock.  I  drank  tea  with  Professor  Sears  and  talked  with 
him  till  9  o'clock,  when  he  walked  home  with  me  to  the  hotel.  I  am 
almost  persuaded  to  take  up  my  abode  here  and  stay  till  I  am  tired. 

"Friday,  Oct.  25. — At  1  o'clock  I  went  to  dine  at  Dr.  Tholuck's. 
nis  si-ter,  his  niece,  a  young  man,  and  a  little  boy  were  at  the  table. 
He  talked  about  the  Christian  Advocate,  Hegel,  Schelling,  presbyterian- 
ism,  monarchy,  the  crown-prince,  and  the  Obertollhausuberschnappungs- 


.Ex. 24.]  VON    GERLACII.  317 

narrenscliiffe.  lie  showed  me  Bagster's  edition  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment (Hebrew).  I  told  him  about  tbe  man  who  borrowed  Walker's 
Dictionary  to  read.  He  laughed  excessively  and  translated  it  to  the 
youth.  I  then  returned  to  the  hotel  and  soou  received  a  visit  from 
Messrs.  Sears  and  Haverstick.  They  were  going  to  see  Dr.  Kodiger 
about  studying  Hebrew  with  him.  On  their  return  they  took  me  with 
them  to  Mr.  Sears's  lodging-house  where  I  think  of  taking  rooms. 
They  offer  me  a  parlour  and  bed-room,  now  occupied  by  a  captain,  for 
five  and  a  half  Prussian  dollars  a  month.  The  captain,  however,  does 
not  move  till  November.  Until  that  time  I  am  to  have  another  pair 
of  rooms  almost  or  quite  as  good.  Mr.  Haverstick  left  us,  and  Mr. 
Sears  went  with  me  to  Herr  von  Gerlach's  but  found  that  he  and  his 
family  had  gone  out  walking.  I  returned  with  him  to  his  room  and 
drank  tea  with  him  again.  Jnst  as  we  began,  Herr  von  Gerlack's  ser- 
vant came  to  say  that  he  would  be  glad  to  see  us.  "We  went  at  7,  and 
saw  the  Ilerr,  the  frau,  and  her  mother  and  two  sisters.  We  drank 
tea  and  ate  some  nameless  thing  like  hominy  with  vinegar  in  it.  We 
also  had  some  wine.  A  Judge  of  some  sort  came  in  to  take  leave  be- 
fore going  to  Berlin.  Herr  von  Gerlach  talked  magnificently  about 
slavery,  royalty  and  other  matters. 

"  Saturday,  Oct.  26.— After  breakfast  I  paid  my  bill  and  caused  the 
porter  to  transport  my  baggage  from  the  Crown  Prince  to  No.  81 
Grosse  Ulrichsstrasse  where  I  took  possession  of  my  stube  and  my  ham- 
mer. The  former  contains  portraits  of  Zwingle,  Melancthon,  two  other 
pictures  and  a  funny  little  clock.  Mr.  Sears  and  I  dined  together  in 
his  room  at  12  o'clock.  In  the  afternoon  I  read  Hengstenberg's  article 
on  the  Sabbath,  and  looked  over  Tholuck's  commentary  on  the  Berg- 
predigt.  At  half  past  four  we  walked  in  the  environs  of  the  town. 
We  then  returned  and  drank  tea. 

"  Sunday,  Oct.  27. — In  the  course  of  the  morning  Professor  Tholuck 
sent  a  note  requesting  me  to  walk  with  him  at  11.  (It  was  signed 
'Dr.  A.  Thk.')  At  9  Mr.  Haverstick  called  and  we  went  with  him 
to  the  Marktkirclie,  where  we  heard  old  Mr.  Fulda  preach  an  election 
sermon,  and  read  a  long  list  of  deaths,  births  and  intended  marriages. 
At  11  we  went  to  Tholuck's  and  walked  with  him.  (We  all  three 
jumped  over  a  fence).*  He  took  us  into  his  house  on  our  return  to 
lend  Mr.  Sears  a  Hebrew  bible  and  me  a  Hebrew  grammar.  At  2 
o'clock  Mr.  Haverstick  called  again  and  took  us  to  the  Ulrichskirche, 
where  we  heard  an  orthodox  sermon  from  a  youth  on  Phil.  iv.  4.   At  4 

*  See  page  321. 


318  DAILY    LIFE    IN    GERMANY.  [1823. 

o'clock  Mr.  Sears  and  I  went  to  drink  coffee  with  Mr.  Haverstick  in 
real  '  student  style.'  He  made  the  coffee  himself  and  told  us  that  his 
expenses  are  not  more  than  75  cents  a  week.  He  showed  us  some  of 
his  hefts  and  told  us  a  ghost-story.  We  talked  about  German  pbiloso- 
phy  and  animal  magnetism. 

11  Monday,  Oct.  28.— At  11  o'clock  Mr.  Sears  and  I  went  out.  At  a 
corner  we  met  with  Mr.  Caiman,  a  teacher  of  English  here,  who  showed 
me  where  to  buy  gloves,  and  put  a  piece  of  court-plaster  on  my  fice 
where  I  cut  it  in  shaving,  and  borrowed  Tennemann's  smaller  History 
of  Philosophy.  This  latter  I  read  during  the  afternoon.  Before  din- 
ner, Baron  Welzien  called  to  invite  us  to  drink  tea  with  him.  After  6 
we  went  accordingly  and  found  there  Mr.  Haverstick  and  Mr.  Beut- 
schel,  an  old  gentleman  born  at  Halle,  who  has  been  absent  forty  years, 
eighteen  of  which  have  been  spent  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  returns  very  soon.  After  tea  we  ate  apples.  A  soldier 
came  with  a  paper  to  the  lieutenant  and  was  sent  back  for  his  musket. 

"  Tuesday,  Oct.  29. — I  finished  Tennemann's  Hist,  of  Germ.  Philos. 
After  dinner,  Mr.  Sears  and  I  took  a  walk  returning  by  the  Waisen- 
haus.  I  bought  a  quire  of  letter  paper  and  a  list  of  the  lectures.  I 
drank  tea  alone.  Mr.  Sears  went  to  Director  Schulze's.  I  was  invited 
too,  through  Mr.  Caiman,  who  sat  with  me  some  time  this  afternoon. 

"Thursday,  Oct.  31. — I  read  DeWette's  Introduction  nearly  all  day. 
Before  dinner  Mr.  S.  and  I  took  a  walk  to  'Ludwig's  etcetera.'  On 
our  way  home  we  hired  the  Conversations  Lexicon,  and  I  put  a  letter 
into  the  Postoffice.  At  5  o'clock  Mr.  Haverstick,  Mr.  Sears  and  I 
walked  with  Herr  Professor  Dr.  Tholuck  agreeably  to  an  appointment 
which  he  made  last  night. 

"Friday,  Nov.  1. — Mr.  Sears  and  I  went  to  several  bookstores  to  in- 
quire for  Hupffeld's  Dissertation,  Ewald's  Arabic  grammar,  and  Bopp's 
Sanscrit  do.  Mr.  von  Gerlach's  servant  came  to  invite  us  to  drink  tea 
there.  ¥e  went  an  hour  too  soon.  Tholuck  called  soon  after  but 
stayed  not  long.  Then  came  Haverstick.  Mr.  von  Gerlach  talked 
a'mut  church  and  state. 

"  Saturday,  Nov.  2.— I  read  Hebrew  and  Greek,  and  De  "Wette's  In- 
troduction. Mr.  von  Gerlach  sent  two  volumes  of  the  Ev.  Kirch.- 
Zeitung.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  Beutschel  called  for  Mr.  Sears's  letters. 
Afterwards  Mr.  Haverstick  called  and  told  us  that  Prof.  Meekel  was  to 
be  buried  at  7  with  a  Fackelzug.     We  went  to  see  it  but  saw  it  not. 

"  Sunday,  Nov.  3. — In  the  morning  we  went  to  the  Domkirche  and 
heard  Prof.  Blanc  on  the  first  part  of  John  xv.  He  reminded  me  of 
Dr.  Carnahan.     There  were  many  soldiers  present.     In  the  afternoon 


,Et.24.]  PROFESSOR   POTT.  319 

we  went  to  the  Ulrichskirche  and  heard  Candidat  Valentin  preach  on 
the  words,  'He  that  coraeth  to  me,'  &c. 

"Monday,  Nov  4. — At  10  o'clock  Mr.  Haverstick  called  and  we  all 
went  to  a  room  in  the  Gross  Berlin  and  heard  Tholuck  lecture  on 
'Moral.'  Our  dinner  came  too  late,  so  that  we  had  to  lock  it  up  and 
hurry  off  to  the  Waage,  where  we  heard  Tholuck  lecture  on  Galatians. 
"We  then  went  to  see  Professor  Putt  and  inquire  about  his  Sanscrit 
lectures,  which  do  not  begin  till  next  Monday. 

"  Wednesday,  Nov.  6. — I  have  heard  Tholuck  lecture  thrice  to-day. 
He  invited  us  to  drink  tea  withhitn  Friday  evening.  I  have  been  read- 
ing Numbers,  Judges,  Isaiah  and  Ecclesiastes  in  Hebrew ;  Matthew, 
1  Corinthians,  Acts  and  Revelation  in  Greek ;  DeWette's  Introduction, 
Ewald's  Grammar  and  Botta's  America. 

"  Thursday,  Nov.  7. — I  heard  Tholuck  twice,  and  went  to  hear  him  a 
third  time  ;  but  there  was  no  light  nor  fire,  and  he  postponed  it  until 
Monday. 

"  Friday,  Nov.  8.— I  heard  Tholuck  lecture  twice.  At  night  Mr.  Sears 
and  I  went  to  his  house  and  drank  tea.  Mr.  Miiller  and  Mr.  Slier  of 
Frankleben  were  present.  He  lent  Mr.  Sears  a  bundle  of  Anzeigers 
and  me  a  book  on  Sin  and  Atonement. 

"  Saturday,  Nov.  9. — We  heard  Rodiger  lecture  on  Hebrew  syntax. 
I  went  to  the  police-office  for  an  aufenthaltskarte,  but  did  not  get  it. 
Dr.  Friedliinder  and  Mr.  Fulda  were  in  Mr.  Sears's  room.  Some  Jews 
took  possession  of  the  room  opposite  to  mine. 

"  Sunday,  Nov.  10.— Luther's  birthday  (350  years  old.)  Tholuck 
preached  in  the  Ulrichskirche  to  a  great  congregation.  '  Ein  feste  burg- 
ist  unser  Gott ' — was  sung  with  a  posaunenspiel.  Mr.  Sears  was  in- 
vited to  dine  to-day  at  Director  Schulze's,  but  declined  because  it  was 
the  Sabbath.  We  walked  with  Tholuck  in  the  afternoon.  The  quar- 
terly fair  has  begun  to-day. 

"Monday,  Nov.  11. — We  attended  Tholuck's  lecture  on  ethics  at  10. 
At  2  we  went  to  hear  Dr.  Fuch,  but  the  room  was  not  open.  At  4 
we  went  to  hear  Dr.  Pott,  but  he  had  begun  before  we  got  there. 

"Tuesday,  Nov.  12. — I  have  heard  four  lectures  to-day  ;  two  by 
Tholuck ;  one  by  Fuch,  on  Genesis,  and  one  by  Pott,  on  Sanscrit. 
Tholuck  had  above  a  hundred  hearers;  Fuch,  fifteen,  and  Pott  four. 
Mr.  Haverstick  brought  me  a  petition  to  the  magistrates,  for  an  aufen- 
thaltskarte  which  Candidat  Fulda  had  written  for  me.  This  I  signed 
and  delivered  to  the  passport-shop  keeper.  Mr.  Sears  and  I  walked 
through  the  fair.  Our  landlady  went  out  to  buy  me  some  stockings, 
and  Mr.  Sears  some  cake.     I  did  not  like  the  stockings,  and  the  land- 


320  CONTRIBUTION    OF    PROFESSOR    SEARS.  [1833. 

lady's  mother  is  to  knit  me  some.  We  have  joined  a  circle  of  newspa- 
per readers  and  received  two  papers  to-day. 

"Wednesday,  IS"ov.  13. — At  10,  I  heard  Tholuck  lecture  on  ethics. 
At  12,  we  dined  on  hare  and  apple-sauce.  At  10,  I  heard  Tholuck  lec- 
ture on  Galatians.  At  11,  Mr.  Sears  and  I  called  again  on  Prof.  Pott. 
At  3,  we  went  to  see  Lieut.  Welzien.  At  5,  we  heard  Tholuck  lecture 
(for  the  third  time)  on  the  Psalms. 

"Thursday,  Xov.  14. — At  10  and  1,  we  heard  Tholuck  lecture.  At 
2,  Mr.  Haverstick  went  with  me  to  the  Orphanhouse,  where  I  ordered 
some  books.  In  the  afternoon  Mr.  von  Gerlach  came  to  see  ns,  incon- 
sequence of  which,  we  did  not  hear  Dr.  Pott's  lecture.  He  invited  us 
to  his  house  this  evening  ;  hut  we  both  had  colds. 

"Friday,  Xov.  15. — I  have  heard  four  lectures  to-day  ;  two  by  Tho- 
luck, on  Galatians  and  Psalms ;  and  two  by  Wegsehneider,  on  1  Corin- 
thians and  Dogmatik.  For  dinner  to-day  they  sent  us  raw  ham,  gruel, 
and  some  stuff  like  salve.  I  received  a  written  summons  to  appear  be- 
fore the  magistrates. 

"  Saturday,  Nov.  1G.  Mr.  Sears  and  I  went  to  the  Waege  after  break- 
fast and  heard  Wegscheider  lecture  one  hour,  on  1  Corinthians,  and 
another  on  the  epistle  of  James — the  latter  in  Latin.  At  11,  I  went  to 
the  police-office  and  was  questioned  by  the  magistrate  with  respect  to 
my  profession,  residence,  and  motives  for  stopping  here.  At  1, 1  heard 
Tholuck  on  Galatians." 

Among  the  Americans  he  fell  in  with,  was  a  young  proies- 
sor  who  was  destined  to  high  distinction  in  his  own  country, 
as  the  President  of  one  of  the  colleges  of  the  United  States. 
This  was  Prof.  Barnas  Sears,  afterwai-ds  the  Rev.  Dr.  Sears  ot 
Brown  University,  and  at  p resent  the  respected  Manager  of 
the  Peabody  Fund  in  the  South.  The  two  young  scholars  at 
once  became  intimate,  and  long  after  these  days  Mr.  Alexan- 
der delighted  to  refer  to  his  intercourse  in  Europe  with  "  Pro- 
fessor Sears."  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  present  to  the  reader  the 
following  letter  from  Dr.  Sears : 

"  In  December,  I  think,  of  1833,  when  I  was  residing  in  Halle,  Ger- 
many, I  was  joined  by  Prof.  J.  Addison  Alexander  on  his  return  from 
Italy.  We  lived  in  the  same  house,  not  only  as  Americans  in  Germany 
— a  thing  not  very  common  in  those  days — but  as  ardent  young  men  ot 
kindred  pursuits.    We  became  as  intimate  as  brothers.   We  were  young 


^t.24]  WALK   WITH    THOLUCK.  321 

professors  who  had  taken  a  similar  course  of  literary  and  theological 
studies,  though  under  different  auspices.  What  a  range  of  intensely 
interesting  topics  was  before  us  when  we  began  to  compare  notes; 
Our  college  studies,  the  gaps  of  which  we  had  just  discovered,  and 
were  enthusiastically  endeavouring  to  fill  up;  the  value  of  classical 
studies,  which  we  both  defended  against  the  attacks  of  Grimke  and 
others ;  ISTew  England  men,  institutions,  theology,  literature,  diction- 
aries, compared  with  those  of  a  more  Southern  latitude,  on  which  we 
agreed  tolerably  well,  even  theology  and  dictionaries  not  excepted  ; 
American  and  European  scholarship;  the  relative  position  of  England, 
France,  and  Germany  in  this  respect;  the  different  German  schools  of 
philology,  philosophy,  and  theology ;  the  men  who  represented  them ; 
Hebrew,  Oriental,  and  Sanscrit  literature.  These  and  other  kindred 
topics  were  discussed  as  earnestly  as  Reconstruction  is  now.  What  a 
chasm  these  thirty-five  years  have  made !  It  is  as  if  an  age  intervened 
between  then  and  now.  The  first  thing  that  struck  me  in  my  new 
friend  was  his  somewhat  voluble  bookish  German.  My  German  was 
meagre  but  conversational ;  his  was  copious,  but  labored,  being  man- 
ufactured on  the  spot  from  the  grammar  and  dictionary.  Our  German 
friends  must  have  enjoyed  the  two  specimens.  I  had  been  in  Ger- 
many three  months  and  he  three  weeks.  I  soon  learned  two  traits  in 
his  character:  a  constant  overflow  (in  private)  of  humour  and  drollery, 
and  a  shyness  in  respect  to  going  into  ladies'  company.  Once  we  wrere 
taking  a  long  evening  walk  to  Giebchenstein  with  Dr.  Tholuck.  The 
Doctor  was  small  of  stature,  of  imperfect  sight,  and  timid  and  nervous 
as  a  woman.  Wo  came  to  a  very  high  fence,  running  from  a  steep 
rock  a  few  feet  to  the  river.  There  was  no  getting  round  it ; 
aud  it  was  already  dark.  We  hoisted  him  up  to  the  very  top 
of  the  fence.*  Prof.  Alexander  being  also  short,  stood  on  tiptoe 
and  tried  to  balance  him ;  while  I  the  taller  one,  was  to  spring  over 
the  fence  and  catch  the  Doctor  before  he  should  fall.  It  was  too 
much  for  my  American  friend.  The  idea  that  we  had  '  such  a  body 
of  evangelical  divinity '  in  our  keeping,  and  that,  for  a  moment,  it  was 
so  ludicrously  poised  in  the  air,  made  him  almost  burst  with  poorly 
suppressed  laughter;  and  for  a  long  time  he  would  recur  to  that  scene, 
making  it  appear  like  one  in  Gil  Bias.  We  lived  in  Grosser-Ulrichs- 
Shasse,  where  the  crowds  passed  when  they  poured  out  in  going  to 
the  Pavilions.  I  shall  never  forget  the  fund  of  innocent  humor  with 
which  ho  would  stand  at  the  window  and  make  his  comments  upon 

*  See  page  317. 


322  ANECDOTES.  [1833. 

individuals  as  they  passed.  It  was  a  playful  attempt  to  see  how  many 
amusing,  yet  pertinent,  things  he  could  say,  without  a  moment's  reflec- 
tion, about  hundreds  of  individual  the  moment  they  passed.  I  re- 
member that  when  his  store  of  wit  seemed  to  be  nearly  exhausted,  he 
said  of  the  next  one,  '  there,  that  one  ought  to  be  spoken  to,'  and 
Bnally  closed  with  a  broad  laugh,  as  he  said  the  last  thing  he  could 
think  of,  '  that  one  ought  to  be  slapped  !  '  We  attended  Prof.  Pott's 
lectures  on  Sanscrit  literature.  The  founder  of  that  school  of  Philology, 
F.  Bopp,  was  Prof.  Pott's  teacher.  Mr.  Alexander  said,  with  his  usual 
air  of  drollery,  'if  the  Prof,  ever  has  a  son,  he  ought  to  name  him 
Bopp ;  we  should  then  have  Bopp  Pott ! '  I  should  not  have  men- 
tioned these  little  incidents  but  for  the  impression  that  many  have  that 
he  was  a  sort  of  recluss  who  did  not  know  how  to  unbend.  Ludwig 
von  Gerlach,  since  then  at  the  head  of  the  judiciary  of  Prussia — a  no- 
bleman of  high  rank,  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Tholuck's  and  was  con- 
sequently our  friend.  Wishing  to  show  us  a  special  favour,  he  invited 
us  to  witness  his  family  celebration  of  Christmas,  which  was  to  be 
magnificent  for  the  splendor  of  the  gifts  bestowed  upon  the  different 
members  of  the  family,  the  two  strangers  not  being  forgotten.  But 
there  were  two  or  three  female  Vons  included  in  the  arrangement;  and 
not  all  that  I  could  say  could  induce  our  inveterate  bachelor  to  attend. 
Tbis  same  von  Gerlach  was  a  devout  monarchist,  and  looked  with  a 
superstitious  veneration  upon  persons  of  royal  birth.  Hearing  Mr. 
Alexander  say  that  he  had  been  presented  to  the  young  princess  Vic- 
toria, then  heiress  to  the  throne,  he  listened  with  eagerness  to  the  re- 
cital of  the  visit,  and  when  the  interest  of  the  scene  was  at  its  height, 
and  von  Gerlach  could  resist  his  curiosity  no  longer,  he  broke  out  and 
said,  '  and  how  did  she  appear  ? '  The  roguish  reply  was,  '  rather 
silly! '  The  effect  designed  was  complete.  "We  heard  no  more  about 
king?,  and  queens,  and  princes.  Such  instances  of  correcting  an  ex- 
travagant opinion  were  not  uncommon  with  him. 

"  Professor  Friedlander  of  Halle,  was  a  great  antiquary  and  lover  of 
art.  We  were  invited  to  tea  at  his  bachelor's  hall.  So  far  everything 
was  to  my  friend's  taste  ;  and  we  had  a  delightful  social  time.  In  the 
course  of  the  evening,  the  Professor  began  on  the  aniiquities  of  Rome, 
and  had  many  questions  to  put  on  the  subject.  Whether  from  in- 
difference or  mere  roguery  we  could  scarcely  tell,  our  young  traveller 
remarked  with  great  gravity  that  there  was  little  to  be  seen  in  Eome 
'  but  priests  and  beggars.'  '  What  a  young  man  '  said  Freidlander,  '  to 
go  to  Rome  and  coma  back  with  snch  a  story  !  '  That  sort  of  running 
fir.'  was  k(  pt  on  both  sides  for  a  good  half  hour. 


Mr.  24.]  TIIOLUCK'S    ESTIMATE    OF    ALEXANDER.  323 

"  He  made  everything  subservient  to  his  studies.  It  was  his  custom 
when  he  went,  from  one  country  to  another,  to  go  to  a  restaurant  and 
there  make  a  beginning  in  the  use  of  the  language,  by  calling  for  every- 
thing at  Imp-hazard  that  was  on  the  bill  of  fare,  and  when  it  came  in 
he  would  know  what  it  was.  But  he  told  us  he  once  got  caught  in 
that  way.  One  morning  at  Rome,  he  gave  one  of  those  chance  or- 
ders, and  what  should  be  brought  hiin  but  a  huge  crab ;  which  he  paid 
for  without  eating. 

"He  was  much  amused  at  the  custom  among  the  Germans,  of 
men  kissing  each  other  at  meeting  or  parting.  Pastor  Stier,  author  of 
'  The  Words  of  Jesus,'  and  other  works  on  the  New  Testament,  called 
on  Tholuck  while  we  were  visiting  him.  They  embraced  each  other, 
putting  their  hands  around  each  other's  necks,  looking  each  other 
silently  in  the  face,  then  kissing  one  cheek,  and  after  a  loDg  pause  kissing 
the  other,  till  at  length  the  good  pastor  broke  out  '  Herr  Jesus !  how 
long  it  is  since  I  have  seen  you!'  Tholuck  admitted  to  us  that  such 
exclamations,  common  among  Christians  in  Germany,  are  irreverent  and 
therefore  objectionable,  although  Luther  apologizes  for  them.  Profes- 
sor Alexander  told  me  afterwards  of  an  amusing  scene  between 
Professor  Halm,  editor  of  the  Greek  Testament,  then  visiting  at  Leip- 

sic,  and  Professors  E.  Robinson  and ,  who  had  been  studying  under 

Gesenius,  Tholuck  and  others  at  Halle.      Dr.  Robinson  was  somewhat 

cold  and  phlegmatic   in    his   temperament;  Dr. (both  of  them 

young  then,  and  neither  of  them  doctors,)  wras,  as  Gesenius  said  of  him, 
'  as  affectionate  as  a  woman.'  When  the  two  Americans  were  about 
to  part  in  Hahn,  he  accompanied  them  to  the  Post-house ;  but  while  he 

was  hugging  and  kissing  the professor,  the  sturdy  New  Eng- 

lander  made  off  with  himself  to  escape  from  the  operation.  I  do  not 
know  how  much  my  friend's  humorous  propensity  led  him  to  add  to 
the  original. picture.  His  stories  are  always  good,  but  had,  I  think,  a 
little  of  himself  in  them — at  least  in  their  colouring.  They  were  told 
for  amusement.  ' 

"  He  was  a  great  favourite  of  Tholuck's — more  so  than  any  other 
American  or  English  visitor.*  After  he  left  Halle  for  Berlin,  Tholuck 
often  spoke  to  me  of  him  in  terms  of  the  highest  eulogy  and  admira- 
tion. '  He  is  the  only  man,'  said  he,  '  who  could  always  give  me  the 
right  English  word  for  one  in  German,  apparently  untranslatable.' 

*  Professor  Tholuck  has  written  a  note  to  the  editor  of  these  memoirs,  in 
which  he  expresses  himself  on  this  subject  in  terms  of  strong  regard  and 
warm  encomium 


324  ANECDOTE    OF    LOUIS    VON    GERLACH.  [1834. 

Indeed  these  two  men  were  in  several  respects,  very  much  alike. 
They  were  both  fond  of  the  languages,  classical,  ancient  and  modern, 
and  were  adepts  in  them,  being  able  to  speak  I  know  not  how  many  of 
them,  I  Lave  heard  them  both  speak  at  least  six.  Both  were  great 
readers,  and  remembered  everything  they  read.  The  studies  of  both 
had  a  wide  range,  especially  in  all  that  related  to  any  one  of  the  de- 
partments of  theology.  "When  they  were  together,  conversation  did 
not  flag  for  want  of  topics. 

"  But  after  all,  what  most  struck  me  in  my  daily  companion  and 
friend,  was  tlie  earnestness  with  which  he  gave  his  whole  soul  to  the 
religious  interests  of  society.  Everything  in  his  mind  centred  in  this 
subject.  Most  of  our  time  was  given  to  topics  connected  with  the 
bearing  of  Christianity  upon  human  society.  Never  did  I  with  any 
man  so  completely  go  over  the  whole  ground  of  all  the  branches  of 
theology,  the  present  state  and  prospects  of  the  church  in  Europe  and 
America,  its  struggles  with  foes  and  false  friends,  and  the  work  yet  to 
be  accomplished  by  Christian  scholars,  as  with  him.  The  books  which 
he  published  after  his  return  to  this  country,  are  the  best  commentary 
upon  the  state  of  his  mind  at  the  time  when  he  was  laying  in  his  stores 
of  knowledge.  To  me  the  recollection  of  those  golden  days,  is  as 
pleasant,  inspiring,  and  elevating  as  it  is  fresh  and  diverting." 

Before  leaving  Halle,  Mr.  Alexander  or  one  of  the  other 
Americans  received  his  friends  at  a  little  entertainment,  at 
which  was  present  General  von  Gerlach.  While  they  were 
sitting  round  the  table,  a  grenadier  came  in  with  a  despatch 
for  the  General,  and  whether  overawed  or  not  at  the  sight  of 
the  company,  failed  to  give  the  customary  military  salute. 
The  Prussian  nobleman  forthwith  compelled  the  poor  soldier 
to  go  alt  the  way  back  (two  miles)  and  return  in  proper  form. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  wont  to  relate  this  incident  with  lively 
pleasure,  both  as  showing  the  character  of  Louis  von  Gerlach 
and  as  a  sample  of  the  continental  punctilio. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  year  he  went  from  Halle  to  Ber- 
lin.    I  resume  the  extracts  from  his  journals. 

"  Sunday,  Jan.  5. — I  went  to  the  Domkirche  at  11,  and  heard  Strauss 
preach  on  the  gospel  of  the  day,  (Matt,  iii.)  to  a  large  and  fashionable 
audience.  In  the  afternoon  I  heard  Lisco  preach  on  the  same  subject 
to  a  house  full  of  common  people. 


At.u.1  KARL    RITTER    AND    IIENGSTENBERG.  325 

"  Saturday,  Jan.  7.  I  attended  Hengstenberg's  Exegetical  Seminary. 
A  passage  in  Hosea  was  read  and  discussed  in  Latin. 

"Saturday,  Feb.  1,  1834.  Continued  Mark  and  Jeremiah.  At  noon, 
heard  Neander  lecture  on  the  monastic  orders.  At  6  o'clock,  heard 
Bopp  on  Sanscrit  grammar.  Bopp  had  four  hearers,  and  Neander  four 
hundred.  Ilengstenberg  held  no  seminary  to-night.  I  read  Maimon- 
ides  on  Forbidden  Food,  and  Michaelis's  Orientalische  Bibliothek. 
Biesenthal  brought  me  a  very  fine  copy  of  Hinckehnann's  Koran,  to 
look  at.     I  am  afraid  I  shall  buy  it. 

"  January  20. — I  began  to  read  Kabbinical  Hebrew  with  J.  II.  Bies- 
enthal. 

"February  4. — At  9  o'clock  I  went  to  the  university  and  heard 
Schleiermacher  lecture  on  the  concluding  words  of  the  first  epistle  of  Pe- 
ter. He  explains  6  ovtiSikos  v[xu>i>  8idpo\os,  of  human  slanderers, 
and  paraphrases  the  latter  part  of  the  9th  verse,  thus:  'Knowing  that 
the  Jews  who  have  not  embraced  Christianity  suffer  as  much  as  you  do." 
Moreover,  he  says  that  the  8th  verse  cannot  refer  to  demoniacal  posses- 
sions, because  in  those,  instead  of  the  devil  devouring  men,  men  de- 
voured the  devil !  The  old  gentleman  is  very  fond  of  Lachmann's  New 
Testament,  and  quotes  its  readings  almost  always  with  approbation. 
At  10,  I  went  to  No.  10  and  heard  Hengstenberg  explain  the  34th 
Psalm.  This  he  thinks  was  composed  by  David,  at  a  later  period;  in 
recollection  of  his  escape  from  Gath.  The  18th  verse  he  applies  to  the 
righteous,  not  to  those  mentioned  in  the  preceding  verses.  In  both 
cases  I  think  he  was  wrong. 

"  At  noon,  I  went  to  the  university  and  heard  Neander  on  1  Cor.  xv. 
48-54.  He  examined  and  rejected  Lachmann's  various  reading  in  the 
51st  verse,  viz.,  navres  /xev  KotjU^S^rrd/xeSa,  do  iravres  Se  dXXny?;oo^e3a. 

"  Wednesday,  Feb.  5. — From  8  to  9 1  heard  von  Gerlach  introduce  the 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews.  He  lectures  this  winter  on  'Introduction' 
only,  and  has  a  dozen  hearers.  His  manner  is  lively  and  agreeable.  I 
heard  Hengstenberg  on  the  35th  Ps.,  which  he  thinks  is  not  properly 
Messianic.  Tholuck  says  that  H.  has  changed  his  mind  of  late  with 
respect  to  the  double  sense,  and  now  admits  a  sort  of  qualified  du- 
plicity. In  the  afternoon,  Biesenthal  came  and  we  read  a  part  of 
M;iimonides's  Letter  on  Astrology.  At  six  o'clock  I  went  to  the  uni- 
versity and  heard  Karl  Kitter  lecture  on  the  geography  of  Palestine. 
He  reads  five  themes  in  the  week  on  geography  in  general,  and  delivers 
a  public  (i.  c.,  gratuitous)  lecture  every  Wednesday  evening.  He  draws 
a  map  upon  the  blackboard  as  he  goes  along. 

"Friday,  Feb.  7. — I  read  the  22d  chapter  of  1  Samuel,  and  studied 


326  NEANDER   AND    SCHLEIERMACHER.  [1834. 

Aben  Ezra's  preface  to  the  Pentateuch.  After  dinner,  I  read  the  37th 
Psalm,  and  tugged  away  at  Aben  Ezra.  At  5  o'clock,  I  paid  a  visit 
to  Professor  Henstenberg,  and  found  him,  as  I  expected,  writing  and 
smoking.  "We  talked  about  the  Christologie,  about  Hitzig,  Isaiah, 
Eosenmuller,  Gesenius,  DeWette,  Hartmann,  Tholuck,  and  the  '  Hal- 
lische  Angelegenheiten.'  He  says  that  he  has  an  article  from  Halle, 
for  the  Kirchenzeitung,  which  "will  make  as  much  noise  as  the  one  in 
1830.  It  is  to-day  in  the  hands  of  the  Censorship,  and  he  is  doubtful 
whether  they  will  let  it  pass.  If  not,  he  will  appeal  to  the  King.  On  a 
former  occasion,  Tholuck  thought  that  the  publication  of  Gerlach's  let- 
ter would  ruin  him  :  but  it  did  him  good.  All  that  is  good,  says  H.,  in 
Eosenmuller's  Scholia  on  the  Minor  Prophets,  is  taken  from  the  mar- 
gin of  Michaelis's  Bible. 

"  Feb.  12. — Biesenthal  and  I  read  the  preface  to  David  Kimchi's 
Michlol,  and  part  of  his  preface  to  the  Psalms.  He  also  showed  me 
some  remarkable  passages  in  the  Ohaldee  Paraphrases,  and  especially 
one  at  the  end  of  Ruth.  Moreover  he  told  me  that  if  I  ever  wished  to 
study  the  Chaldee  Paraphrases  critically,  I  must  have  the  "75  anx  or 
<pi\6£evoi;,  published  at  Vienna  in  1830.  The  author  is  a  professor 
at  Padua.  At  five  o'clock  went  to  see  Yon  Gerlach,  but  found  him  in 
the  entry  talking  to  Hengstenberg.  He  promised  to  come  and  see  me 
to-morrow,  and  informed  me  that  Schleiermacher  died  to-day  of  an  in- 
flammation of  the  lungs,     ne  had  been  ill  five  days. 

"  Thursday,  Feb.  13. — Finished  the  song  of  Moses  in  the  32d  chapter 
of  Deut.  Between  nine  and  ten  Mr.  von  Gerlach  came  to  see  me,  and  told 
me  that  Scheleirmacher  would  be  buried  on  Saturday.  He  also  stated 
that  four  men  were  spoken  of  as  his  successors ;  Nitzsch  of  Bonn, 
Twesten  of  Kiel,  Lucke  of  Gottingen,  and  Olshausen  of  Konigsberg. 
He  says  moreover  that  Hengstenberg  lectures  on  the  New  Testament, 
in  consequence  of  an  injunction  from  ministry,  designed,  he  thinks,  to 
blast  his  influence.  "We  then  talked  about  the  history  of  the  American 
churches,  and  he  proposed  that  I  should  collect  and  send  him  the  prin- 
cipal authorities  on  that  subject,  receiving  in  return  German  books  of 
equal  value. 

"  Feb.  14.— I  read  the  42d  Ps.,  and  the  23d  chapter  of  1  Samuel  in 
Hebrew.  Then  I  continued  the  Michlol.  At  night  I  read  Kimchi, 
Michaelis,  and  Guericke;  Colossians  and  Acts.  Biesenthal  came  in  the 
evening  to  say  that  he  would  come  at  12  to-morrow,  as  he  wished  to 
attend  Schleiermacher's  funeral  in  the  afternoon.  He  brought  a  note  to 
leave  if  he  found  me  not  at  home.  It  was  in  Hebrew,  aud  I  have  put 
it  away  among  my  autographs.     He  says  that  "Neander  cried  when  he 


Mr.  24.]  VISITS    NEANDER.  327 

mentioned  Scbleiermacher's  death  in  his  lecture,  and  the  students  cried 
too.  Neander  said,  '  May  it  be  allowed  to  him  at  the  feet  of  the  Lamb 
to  see  that  clearly,  which  he  struggled  after  here.'  The  hist  words  of 
Scbleiermacher's  last  lecture  were  'Morgen  wird  dies  klarer  seyn.'  S. 
is  said  to  have  been  the  real  manufacturer  of'Lachmann's  edition  of  the 
N.  T.  Lachmann  himself  lectures  on  Horace  and  on  the  history  of 
German  poetry. 

"Feb.  18. — Read  Deut.  and  Psalms  in  Ilebrew;  also  Kimchi  with 
Biesenthal.  At  night  I  went  to  see  Focke,  who  invited  me  when  I 
was  there  last  to  call  and  spend  the  evening  without  invitation.  Soon 
after  I  arrived  the  Dean  and  Deaness  of  the  Juridical  Faculty  arrived ; 
and  a  little  later  the  Dean  and  Deaness  and  Grand-Deaness  of  the  The- 
ological Faculty.  Then  came  the  Justizrath's  brother  and  his  wife.  A 
good  deal  was  said  in  conversation  about  Schleiermacher.  They  say 
that  on  the  day  of  his  death  he  partook  of  the  communion  and  admin- 
istered it  to  his  family.  He  then  repeated  the  Apostles'  creed,  and 
added,  'In  this  faith  I  die.'  His  last  words  were  'Die  Barinherzig- 
keit  Gottes ! '  * 

" "  Feb.  21. — At  half  past  four  I  went  according  to  appointment  to  see 
Dr.  Neander.  He  received  me  very  graciously  and  was  very  talkative. 
He  spoke  German  and  I  English,  at  his  own  suggestion.  Part  of  the 
time,  however,  both  spoke  English  and  both  German.  We  discoursed 
about  America,  England  and  Germany.  He  admires  the  Christian  Ob- 
server very  much  and  asked  me  who  was  the  editor.  He  thinks  we 
.ought  to  have  Universities  with  Theological  faculties  composed  of  re- 
presentatives from  the  different  sects.  He  laments  the  Einseitigkeit 
and  Befangenheit  of  the  German  Christians,  and  says  there  is  not  a 
religious  journal  conducted  in  a  Catholic  spirit.  When  I  came  away 
he  took  a  memorandum  of  my  lodgings.  I  take  this  opportunity  to 
say  that  I  have  been  agreeably  disappointed  in  Neander.  When  I  first 
came,  Ayerst  told  me  there  was  no  use  in  going  to  see  him,  unless  I 
wished  merely  to  see  him,  for  he  would  stand  still  and  look  behind  the 
table  all  the  time.  And  Von  Gerlach  informed  me  that  when  Mr. 
Luttworth,  of  Paris,  called  upon  Neander  he  did  not  sptjak  one  word. 
Another  case  of  the  same  kind  has  been  mentioned  since.  When  I 
first  went  to  his  house,  therefore,  I  expected  to  be  in  an  awkward  pre- 
dicament, as  I  am  the  last  man  in  the  world  to  hold  up  both  ends  of 
the  discourse.  ■  I  now  record  it,  however,  as  a  fact,  that  Neander  re- 


*  A  few  lines  below  this  occurs  the  poetical  tribute  to  Rezeau  Brown. 


328  BOPP,    RHEINWALD    AND    NITZSCH.  [1834. 

ceived  me  at  first  with  great  cordiality  and  talked  very  freely.  He  has 
a  canary  bird  in  a  cage. 

"  Sunday,  Feb.  23. — At  9  o'clock  I  went  to  the  French  church,  in 
the  Gens-d'armes  Market,  and  heard  M.  le  Pasteur  Henry,  the  biographer 
of  Calvin,  preach  on  the  necessity  of  Christ's  death.  There  were 
very  few  present,  besides  a  number  of  children  from  the  charity  schools 
of  the  '  French  Colony.'     Henry  looks  at  a  distance  like  Hargous. 

"  February  25. — At  11  o'clock  I  went  with  Biesenthal  to  Professor 
Bopp's.  There  the  Brahmin  and  I  had  a  long  discourse  in  English,  about 
Sanscrit  and  all  the  Iudo-Germanic  tongues.  I  asked  him  questions 
about  English,  and  he  gave  me  a  great  deal  cf  information.  He  was 
more  polite  and  pleasant  in  his  manners  than  any  man  whom  I  have 
seen  in  Germany.  Most  of  his  pupils  study  Sanscrit  on  account  of  its 
relations  to  classical  philology ;  and  he  expects  through  some  of  them 
a  great  change  in  the  aspect  of  Greek  and  Latin  grammar.  No  partic- 
ular grammar  has  yet  appeared  presenting  the  results  of  the  Indo-Ger- 
manic  researches.  Pott  will  probably  do  something  in  this  way.  Bopp 
spoke  very  highly  of  Pott's  recent  publication. 

':  At  7  o'clock  I  went  to  Focke's.  He  asked  me  about  a  phrase  in 
Rutherford's  Letters.  Soon  after  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ayerst  came,  and  then 
another  lady  whom  I  have  seen  there  before.  The  conversation  was 
in  English.  We  sang  two  of  Watts' s  hymns.  I  read  a  chapter  and  Ayerst 
prayed." 

On  March  the  3rd,  lie  left  Berlin. 

"  March  6. — In  Gottingen  we  heard  Ewald  lecture  on  Biblical  His- 
tory. At  11  o'clock  I  went  to  see  Ewald  and  introduced  myself.  I 
shall  say  no  more  of  the  interview  at  present  than  that  I  was  delighted 
with  the  tout  en?,emble  of  the  man." 

On  the  Ttli  he  left  Gottingen,  passing  through  Cassel,  Mar- 
bury,  Giessen,  Frankfort  on  the  Main,  Weisbaden,  Nassau, 
and  Coblentz,  and  on  the  11th  I  find  him  in  Bonn.  Here  he 
called  on  Prof.  Rheinwald,  to  whom  he  had  a  letter  from  Otto 
von  Gerlach.  On  the  1 1th,  Prof.  Rheinwald  took  him  to  see 
Prof.  Xitzsch,  and  then  to  the  house  of  Augusti. 

"  They  were  drinking  tea,  and  we  drank  tea,  after  which  the  fold- 
ing doors  were  opened  and  we  were  taken  in  to  supper.     It  was  near 


^Et.24.]         REMINISCENCES    BY    DR.    SAMUEL    MILLER.  329 

11  o'clock  when  we  got  away.     Angusti  was  very  funny.     At  parting 
he  kissed  me-!  " 

On  the  13  th,  he  heard  Nitzsch*  lecture  on  eschatology,  the  last 
topic  of  dogmatik — Anti-Christ,  the  man  of  sin,  and  Christ's 
second  appearing.  Afterward,  Rheinwald  directed  him  to 
the  works  of  Bleek  and  Sack,  and  gave  him  the  last  volume  of 
his  Repertory  to  take  to  Cousin  in  Paris,  with  a  letter. 

"At  2  o'clock,  Rheinwald  came  up  to  my  room  and  asked  me  to 
walk.  Two  others  went  along,  a  Professor  in  the  Gymnasium  here, 
and  Simrock,  a  lecturer  on  the  old  German  poets.  We  went  to  a  gar- 
den and  drank  some  coffee." 

In  the  afternoon  he  was  taken  by  Rheinwald  to  Freytag's, 
where  he  took  tea  with  the  Professor,  his  wife  and  daughter. 

"He  showed  me  several  of  his  books,  and  talked  a  great  deal.  He 
asked  me  to  take  a  copy  of  his  Chrestomatliy  to  De  Sacy,  and  one  to 
Renaud,  the  keeper  of  the  MSS.,  at  Paris ;  which  I  gladly  agreed  to  do." 

On  the  14th  of  March  he  left  Bonn,f  and  reached  Paris  on 
the  21st,  where  he  remained  in  company  of  Mr.  Patton  and 
other  friends,  visiting  interesting  points  until  April  14,  when 
he  left  for  Havre,  and  sailed  from  thence  in  the  ship  Poland 
for  New  York. 

Among  the  Americans  on  shipboard,  who  had  known  him 
also  in  France,  and  before,  was  Mr.  Samuel  Miller,  now  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Miller,  of  Mount  Holly,  N.  J. 

Dr.  Miller  has  communicated  the  following  sketches : 
"  Fiom  my  earliest  recollection,  he  was  the  wonder  of  Princeton  for 
his  Hi  guistic  learning  on  the  one  hand,  and  his  semi-monastic  life  on 

*  While  this  work  was  going  through  the  earlier  stages  of  preparation,  the 
imposing  funeral  of  Nitzsch  was  occupying  the  attention  of  foreign  journalists. 
Hengstenberg  died  while  these  pages  were  in  the  hands  of  the  printer. 

f  Where  he  saw  Cousin  and  De  Sacy.  The  last-named  "  was  very  talkative, 
and  when  I  came  away  ran  through  half  a  dozen  rooms  to  bow  me  down- 
stairs." Mr.  Alexander  never  forgot  or  neglected  an  errand.  He  calls  the 
Garden  of  the  Luxembourg,  "  my  favourite  spot." 


330        PARIS    AND    PRINCETON    HABITS    CONTRASTED.        [1834. 

the  other;  and  it  seemed  to  he  commonly  imagined  that  nothing  too 
wonderful  could  be  told  as  to  either  of  these  particulars. 

Though  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century  I  lived  in  Princeton,  and 
nearly  all  that  time  was  nominally  acquainted  with  Addison  Alexander, 
it  would  hardly  he  right  to  say  that  I  ever  had  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  him.  I  was  a  few  years  younger  than  he,  and  that,  with  his  re- 
cluse habits,  prevented  any  intimacy.  lie  and  I,  in  fact,  had  seldom 
if  ever  exchanged  a  word,  beyond  a  passing  salutation,  until  I  met  him 
as  a  preceptor,  first  at  Professor  Putton's  Edgehill  School,  then  in  the 
College,  then  in  the  Theological  Seminary. 

At  Edgehill,  he  struck  me  particularly  as  a  very  acute  observer  of 
all  that  was  going  on  about  him.  It  was  difficult  to  elude  his  watch- 
fulness. Of  his  learning  I  could  form  no  competent  judgment,  but  took 
for  granted  that  it  was  prodigious,  as  I  had  always  heard  it  was.  Of 
my  college  acquaintance  with  him  I  have  little  definite  recollection  ;  a 
high  estimate,  formed  at  the  time,  of  his  scholastic  qualifications  as  an 
instructor,  chiefly  lingers  in  my  memory. 

Some  years  before  I  met  him  as  a  professor  in  the  Seminary,  it  had 
been  my  happiness — a  real  and  very  great  happiness — to  pass  about  a 
month  with  him  on  shipboard,  returning  from  Europe.  A  day  or  two 
prior  to  our  sailing,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  he  joined  the  party  of  which 
I  was  one,  in  Paris;  where,  only  a  few  hours  before  our  departure,  I 
walked  with  him  early  in  the  morning  through  the  streets,  which  the 
previous  night  had  been  the  scene  of  a  popular  emeute,  and  were  still 
partially  obstructed  by  ruinous  barricades,  formed  chiefly  of  the  cubical 
paving  stones.  I  found  him  a  most  entertaining  and  instructive  guide, 
acquainted  with  everything  I  wanted  to  know,  and  quite  determined  to 
see  whatever  was  to  be  seen. 

The  previous  evening,  I  had  met  him  at  a  sociable  tea-drinking  at 
the  rooms  of  an  American  friend.  Two  or  three  ladies  were  of  the 
party.  Here  he  reversed  all  my  notions  formed  in  Princeton  of  his 
rigid  self-exclusion  from  society,  particularly  female  society,  by  proving 
remarkably  unembarrassed  and  affable,  in  fact  taking  the  lead  in  free, 
sprightly  conversation  with  all  around  him.  There  can  be  no  doubt, 
however,  that  his  Princeton  and  Paris  habits  in  this  respect  were  as 
far  apart  at  least  as  the  two  places. 

On  shipboard  we  had  a  month  of  something  like  intimacy.  Most 
of  the  gentlemen  were  foreigners,  or  had  wives  to  attend  to  ;  and  we 
naturally  attended  somewhat  to  each  other.  We  laughed  ourselves 
through  a  preliminary  sea-sickness,  which  perhaps  served  to  get  us  to- 
gether the  more  happily;  and  I  found  the  association  most  entertaining 


Mt.24.)      PARIS    AND    PRINCETON    HABITS    CONTRASTED.      331 

and  profitable.  He  was  full  of  information,  very  communicative,  •won- 
derfully observant,  versatile,  and  humorous.  He  had,  I  think,  his  Ara- 
bic* books  with  him  ;  and  whiled  away  part  of  the  time  in  the  study 
of  them.  Now  and  then  he  would  extemporize  a  little  Latin,  having 
caught  the  infection  perhaps  from  Dr.  Samuel  H.  Cox,  whom  I,  and 
probably  he,  had  met  in  Europe  some  months  before.  A  more  inter- 
esting companion  I  could  not  well  have  found." 

*  One  of  his  smaller  diaries  has  a  third  of  its  space  taken  up  with  a  catalogue 
of  Chinese  keys.  It  contains  a  numbered  list  of  210  vocables  or  word-signs 
There  are  also  several  consecutive  pages  of  Hebrew. 


332  RETURN    TO    PRINCETON.  [1834. 


CHAPTER   X. 

The  time  was  now  at  hand  for  the  absent  scholar  to  return, 
and  to  enter  on  the  most  important  business  of  his  life.  There 
was  lively  expectation  in  the  little  borough  of  Princeton,  when 
it  was  known  that  one  so  well  fitted  by  nature  and  grace,  and 
who  had  made  such  unusual  and  extensive  preparations  to  give 
new  fame  to  the  place  of  his  adoption,  was  coming  home  re- 
freshed by  foreign  travel  and  laden  with  the  honeyed  spoils 
of  European  learning.  His  father's  family  awaited  the  event 
with  the  keenest  and  most  pleasurable  emotions,  and  stood 
ready  to  welcome  the  wanderer  with  the  warmest  salutations 
of  affection. 

At  the  time  anticipated,  the  happy  voyager  set  his  foot 
once  more  upon  his  father's  threshold,  the  picture  of  health  and 
delighted  animation.  While  abroad  he  had  been  invited  to 
accept  the  chair  of  Adjunct  Professor  of  Oriental  Literature 
in  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  I  have  the  au- 
thority of  President  Maclean,  for  saying  that  "  The  Trustees 
and  Faculty  of  the  College  would  most  gladly  have  done  any- 
thing in  their  power  to  secure  his  services  permanently :  yet 
no  one  questioned  the  propriety  of  his  decision  in  this  matter, 
as  all  knew  that  his  studies  and  his  tastes  rendered  him  in  an 
eminent  degree  a  suitable  person  to  be  engaged  in  the  direct 
work  of  preparing  young  men  for  the  duties  of  the  holy  min- 
istry." 

As  to  Mr.  Alexander  himself,  he  does  not  seem  to  have 
hesitated  for  a  moment  in  deciding  in  his  own  mind  where 
the  path  of  duty  lay.  He  was  not  slow  to  see  and  feel 
that  his  life's  work,  for  which  he  had  been  undergoing  so  won- 
derful a  preparation,  was  to  be  at  the  Theological  Sem- 


^Et.25.]  THE    NEW  PROFESSOR.  333 

inary.  It  is  undeniable  that  he  was  passionately  fond  of 
change  ;  but  he  was  also  passionately  fond  of  science  and  lit- 
erature ;  a  devotee  to  books  and  study ;  and  the  shadow  of  a 
great  institution  of  learning  was  enough  to  keep  him  fixed  in 
his  place.  He  remained  a  teacher  in  the  Theological  Seminary, 
though  he  was  not  without  allui'ing  invitations  to  go  else- 
where, from  this  time  until  the  day  of  his  death,  a  period  em- 
bracing nearly  twenty-five  years.  He  had  given  himself  to 
his  Saviour,  and  he  believed  it  to  be  the  will  of  God  as  plainly 
indicated  by  the  suggestions  of  Providence,  that  he  should 
avail  himself  continuously  of  the  best  means  of  mental  improve- 
ment which  were  at  his  disposal,  with  a  single  eye  to  thor- 
ough preparation  for  the  task  to  which  he  felt  himself  to  be 
called,  viz.  the  exhaustive  study  and  careful  exposition  of  the 
sacred  volume.  To  this  grand  end  he  now  cheerfully  bent  all 
his  faculties,  and  sacrificed  some  of  his  dearest  inclinations. 

He  was  strangely  constituted.  Much  as  he  longed  for  va- 
riety, he  was  commonly  contented  to  look  for  it  in  the  perpet- 
ual re-distribution  of  his  books,  and  the  incessant  re-arrange- 
ment of  the  furniture  of  his  room.  If  this  endless  shifting  of 
the  scenery  within  his  own  study,  did  not  suffice  to  please  him, 
he  would  change  his  study  by  removing  to  some  other  apart- 
ment ;  and  so  on  ad  libitum.  This  was  the  case  at  least,  in  win- 
ter. It  was  hard  for  him  to  stay  at  home  during  the  summer 
months.  The  long  summer  vacation  which  was  now  afforded 
him,  was  therefore  the  very  thing  to  meet  and  satisfy  his  desire 
for  travel  and  a  totally  different  set  of  studies. 

Mr.  Alexander  returned  from  Europe  in  May,  and  soon 
after  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  the  Seminary, 
as  the  assistant  of  Dr.  Hodge,  in  the  department  of  Oriental 
Literature.  His  youth,  robust  health,  powerful  head,  and  his 
pleasing  and  at  the  same  time  commanding  face,  his  quick  mo- 
tions, his  mastery  of  the  art  of  speech  as  well  as  silence,  his 
precocious  reputation  for  scholarship  as  well  as  for  native  abili- 
ty, his  rigid  seclusion,  his  stern  exacting  discipline,  and  the 
contact  of  his  fiery  genius,  from  the  first  made  a  profound  impres- 
sion.    The  young  men  were  fascinated.     The  new  professor 


334  SEVERITY    IN    THE    CLASS-ROOM.  [1834. 

saw  this  at  once  and  took  advantage  of  it  to  carry  out  certain 
plans  of  his  own  which  till  then  were  novel  in  the  recitation 
rooms  at  Princeton.  Of  course  he  immediately  took  the  reins  in 
his  own  hands,  and,  though  he  did  not  always  ply  the  whip  as 
he  did  at  first,  he  never  suffered  them  to  slip  from  his  fingers. 
It  is  true  there  were  cases  of  insubordination  ;  but  with  great 
force  of  character  and  with  much  play  of  satirical  wit,  as  well 
as  by  a  candid  acknowledgment  of  error  when  he  was  at  fault, 
he  succeeded  in  putting  down  every  emeute  and  making  fast 
friends  of  some  who  threatened  to  be  deadly  foes. 

The  question  has  sometimes  been  raised,  was  Mr.  Alexan- 
der's severe  and  unforbearing  reproofs  and  sarcasms  in  the 
lecture-room  consistent  with  the  idea  that  he  had  a  warm  heart 
and  a  tone  of  humble  piety  ?  I  desire  earnestly  to  give  the 
simple  truth  about  this  whole  matter.  If  Mr.  Alexander  was 
cold,  hard,  cruel,  truculent,  and  little  under  the  habitual  power 
of  religion,  as  some  seem  to  have  supposed,  the  fact  must  have 
been  known  to  the  young  men  with  whom  he  mingled  daily, 
and  to  his  colleagues  in  the  Seminary.  We  shall  find  them 
taking  a  very  different  view  of  the  case.  Whatever  may  have 
been  the  promptings  of  his  natural  inclination,  and  I  think  it 
has  been  shown  that  his  disposition  was  frank,  simple  and  gen- 
erous, he  was  a  shining  instance  of  the  power  of  divine  mercy. 
This  has  led  Dr.  Hodge  to  say : 

"  His  religious  character  was  very  marked.  He  had  as  much  of  the 
humility  and  docility  of  a  child  under  the  teachings  of  the  Word  and 
spirit  of  God,  as  any  man  I  have  ever  known.  He  seemed  to  have  no 
difficulty  in  believing.  Everything  that  he  fpund  taught  in  the  scrip- 
tures he  accepted  without  hesitation ;  and  every  portion  of  the  re- 
ceived canon  was  to  him  part  of  the  word  of  God.  The  strength  and 
simplicity  of  his  faith  are  so  clearly  impressed  on  all  his  commentaries 
and  other  writings,  that  they  cannot  escape  the  notice  of  any  of  his 
readers.  He  was  conscientious,  faithful,  and  punctual  in  the  discharge 
of  all  his  duties.  He  was  never  absent  from  the  lecture-room  or  pul- 
pit when  called  to  be  present,  unless  absolutely  unable  to  attend.  All 
his  students  wereJmpressed  by  the  tenderness  of  his  conscience.  If 
any  manifestation  of  impatience  escaped  him  in  the  recitation  room, 


^t.  25.]  GROWTH    IN    GENTLENESS.  335 


• 


they  were  sure  that  the  next  prayer  he  made  in  their  presence  would 
show  that  he  sought  forgiveness  of  such  lapses  from  his  Father  in 
Heaven." 

Surely  even  in  his  natural  disposition  he  was  generous  and 
amiable.  One  of  his  friends  and  colleagues*  is  satisfied  that 
as  a  teacher  he  was  not  easily  and  well  understood.  The 
massive  intellect,  rich  learning,  and  rhetorical  power,  could  he 
always  appreciated.  But  the  rapid  process,  and  apparent 
impatience  of  his  manner,  sometimes  oppressed  and  discour- 
aged the  student.  Often,  he  says,  his  quick  and  curt  correction 
mortified  the  stranger,  and  sometimes  left  irritated  feelings. 

"It  was  only  towards  the  end  of  the  course,  when  his  mind  and 
heart  had  been  measured  out  more  fully,  and  some  radiation  of  kind- 
ness had  been  sure  to  reach  every  one  who  was  worthy,  that  many 
could  attain  to  the  just  admiration  and  love  with  which  his  later  pu- 
pils regarded  him.  Then  it  was  solid.  No  patronizing  air  had  won 
it ;  no  flattery  "of  self-love  in  the  learner ;  but  power,  learning,  elo- 
quence, heart,  and  simple  piety." 

But  even  at  the  beginning,  I  may  add  to  the  words  of  this 
skilful  judge  of  character,  he  was  always  comprehended  by 
some,  who  united  with  fair  talents  and  diligence  in  study  a 
little  boldness,  an  unsuspecting  confidence  in  their  superiors,  a 
discerning  generosity  and  sympathy,  and  a  manner  as  far  re- 
moved from  obsequiousness  on  the  one  hand,  as  intrusive  pre- 
sumption on  the  other. 

It  will  not  fail  to  be  noticed  as  we  go  on,  that  the  men  of 
the  later  classes  were  in  the  habit  of  repeating  and  exagger- 
ating stories  that  had  come  down  to  them  like  ancient  myths 
or  legends  from  students  of  the  earlier  periods  of  Mr.  Alex- 
ander's professorship,  all  of  which  went  to  show  that  the  ath- 
letic and  fiery  Hebraist  was  tei-rible  and  even  cruel  to  those 
who  were  so  unfortunate  as  to  attract  his  anger  and  thus  briner 
doAvn  on  themselves  his  witty  repartee.     I  have  been  at  no 

*  The  Rev.  Alexander  T.  McGill,  D.  D.  Dr.  McGill  became  associated  with 
him  long  afterwards. 


336  DR.    LYON'S   RECOLLECTIONS.  [1834. 

little  pains  to  sift  these  stories  to  the  bottom,  and  have  em- 
bodied the  results  of  my  investigations  in  various  forms,  such 
as  extracts  from  students'  letters,  descriptive  sketches  and 
anecdotes,  running  comments,  and  the  like,  which  will  be  given 
to  the  reader  in  due  order.  The  amount  of  what  truth  I  have 
arrived  at  in  the  premises  is  this :  Mr.  Alexander  made  his 
first  classes  in  Hebrew  work  like  Trojans ;  and  was  often  out  of 
patience  with  gross  negligence,  vanity,  or  dulness,  and  some- 
times treated  the  offenders  without  measure  or  mercy.  But 
he  was  very  peaceable  after  all  was  over ;  and  gradually  he  be- 
came more  and  more  tolerant  and  gentle,  until  towards  the 
last,  his  steady  meekness  was  more  noticeable  than  the  occa- 
sional flashes  of  his  first  or  mistaken  resentment.  His  detect- 
ed errors  he  was  always  ready  to  acknowledge  and  repair.  I 
now  call  attention  to  the  words  of  one  of  his  earliest  pupils. 
Dr.  James  A.  Lyon  of  Columbus,  Mississippi,  was  a  student  at 
Princeton  Seminary  from  1832  to  1836,  and  thus  spent  some 
two  or  thi'ee  years  under  the  tuition  of  Mi*.  Alexander.  He 
well  recollects  his  first  appearance  in  the  lecture-room. 

"  lie  glided  noiselessly  and  suddenly  into  the  lecture  room,  and  in 
a  moment  was  at  his  chair,  not  in  it ;  for  he  rarely  took  hia  seat  before 
he  commenced  with  a  very  short  prayer,  rapidly  uttered,  and  before 
the  class  had  all  adjusted  themselves  in  their  seats,  he  had  called  on 
some  student  to  begin  the  recitation.  With  a  glance  of  the  eye,  quick 
as  a  twinkle,  he  seemed  to  comprehend  the  situation,  and  detected  in- 
stantly who  were  present  and  who  were  absent.  The  recitations  were  in- 
variably short,  not  exceeding  three  quarters  of  an  hour.  At  the  close 
of  the  recitation  he  darted  out  of  the  room,  as  his  place  was  near  the 
door,  and  gave  no  opportunity  for  parley  with  the  students." 

In  Dr.  Lyon's  opinion,  which  it  is  but  fair  to  state,  he  was 
not,  in  a  social  point  of  view,  very  accessible,  especially  if  the 
visiting  student  manifested  the  slightest  symptom  of  being  too 
familiar,  or  of  deviating  from  the  exact  subject  of  inquiry. 

"lie  took  a  most  unmistakable  method  of  making  a  student  of  this 
kind  feel,  after  he  had  answered  his  questions,  or  given  the  explanations 
sought  for,  that  his  absence  would  be  very  pleasant.     This  he  did  by 


iET.28.]  MANNERS    IN    HIS    STUDY.  337 

remaining  silent  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  floor,  at  the  same  time  play- 
ing with  his  fingers  on  his  ch;iir,  or  engaging  in  a  loud  whistle.  If 
this  did  not  speedily  produce  its  desired  effect,  he  would  deliberately 
turn  to  his  table  and  resume  his  studies." 

Consequently,  "when  the  same  writer  visited  him  in  his 
study,  which  he  sometimes  did,  as  he  was  a  member  of  two  or 
three  of  the  professor's  private  and  special  classes  in  the  study  of 
Arabic,  Cbaldee,  and  the  peculiar  terminology  of  the  Levitical 
ceremonial  law,  he  rarely  took  his  seat  before  he  began  his 
business  ;  never  asked  a  question  which  he  did  not  regard  as 
essential  to  the  point ;  and  the  moment  his  business  was  ac- 
complished, left  the  room.  The  result  was  that  he  was  re- 
ceived without  any  very  visible  signs  that  he  was  unwelcome. 
Occasionally  when  he  rose  to  leave,  the  professor  would  re- 
quest him  to  sit  longer;  which,  however,  he  but  seldom  did. 
"  I  dreaded  "  he  says,  "  his  finger-beat  upon  his  chair,  or  his 
loud  whistle,  which  was  anything  but  music  to  my  ear."  This 
fear  of  him  which  so  many  had  was  unquestionably  the  source 
of  much  of  the  teacher's  embarrassed  restlessness. 

Dr.  Lyon  was  impressed  with  his  exceeding  avidity  for 
study  and  work.  Not  satisfied  with  the  ordinary  daily  recita- 
tions in  the  lecture  room,  Mr.  Alexander  proposed  to  such  of 
the  class  as  were  so  inclined,  to  form  private  classes  with 
him  in  Arabic,  Syriac,  Chaldee,  and  other  departments  of  orien- 
tal learning.  At  first,  several  students  availed  themselves  of 
this  opportunity  of  enlarging  their  fields  of  study.  But  most 
of  them  soon  fell  off,  until  at  length  the  private  class  was  re- 
duced to  three,  Melancthon  W.  Jacobus,  Joseph  Owen,  now 
a  learned  missionary  in  India,  and  Mr.  Lyon  himself. 

"These  private  classes,"  says  Dr.  Lyon,  "seemed  to  be  formed  as 
much  for  his  own  employment  and  improvement  as  for  ours.  He  ap- 
peared restless  and  unhappy  unless  he  had  as  much  work  as  he  could 
do.  ITe  was  so  thorough  in  everything  he  studied,  that  he  needed  not 
to  review,  and  therefore  seemed  to  have  an  aversion  to  travelling  over 
the  same  ground  twice.  To  him  nothing  was  so  tedious  as  'a  twice-told 
tale.'  Hence  he  was  constantly  changing  the  field  of  study ;  and  to 
some  who  were  incapable  of  appreciating  the  magnificence  of  his  men- 
15 


338  POWER   OF    SARCASM.  [1834. 

tal  powers,  and  the  necessity  there  was  for  constant  mental  excitement 
he  seemed  fickle." 

This  impression  was  very  general  at  all  times,  but  as  Dr. 
McGill,  Professor  Hepburn,  and  others  will  abundantly  show, 
was  not  altogether  just.  He  had  not  yet  mellowed  down  into 
the  traetable  and  sympathising  teacher  he  afterwards  became. 

"  lie  was  not  considered  amiable  during  the  first  years  of  his  ser- 
vice in  the  Seminar}',  but  on  the  contrary  rather  severe  and  unfoibear- 
ing.  The  students  were  .-ifraiei  of  him.  How  he  became  afterwards  I 
am  not  able  to  say.  D.mbtless,  however,  he  became  more  patient  as 
he  grew  older.  lie  was  sometimes  fearfully  sarcastic,  having  no  tol- 
erance for  the  proud,  impertinent,  or  self-conceited,  whom  indeed,  ho 
did  not  hesitate  to  cut  in  twain,  with  a  word,  or  a  look,  or  a  sneer." 

Mr.  Alexander  was  a  terror  to  the  idle,  and  often  took 
pleasure  in  making  such  expose  their  own  ignorance  and  re- 
veal their  own  lazy  devices. 

"I  recollect,  tli at  on  a  certain  occasion  one  of  the  idlers  was  called 
on  to  recite  in  Hebrew.  As  a  substitute  for  studying  the  lesson  word 
for  word,  so  as  to  be  able  to  give  a  correct  translation,  he  simply  mem- 
orized the  English  version.  It  so  happened  that  he  was  called  to  read, 
when  within  three  verses  of  the  end  of  the  chapter.  He  read  one 
verse  of  the  Hebrew,  but  instead  of  giving  the  rendering  of  the  verse 
read,  he  gave  that  of  the  succeeding  verse.  The  professor  said  nothing, 
but  with  a  cruel  smile  on  his  face  exclaimed,  'read  the  next  verse1 — 
which  he  did,  still  travelling  ahead  ;  '  now,'  said  he,  blandly,  '  read  the 
last !  '  The  poor  fellow  read  the  Hebrew,  but  looked  up  in  utter  dismay 
i  midst  the  roars  of  the  class,  at  his  humiliating  and  ridiculous  exposure." 

If  we  now  turn  to  the  outer  world,  we  shall  find  there  was 
not  much  change  in  the  situation  of  thinsrs  in  the  village. 
Professor  James  Alexander  was  still  occupied  at  the  college. 
Every  fortnight  a  literary  club  met  in  Princeton.  On  alternate 
wreeks  there  was  a  sederunt  of  a  strictly  clerical  association. 
The  members  of  the  literary  club  at  this  time  were  Dm  Alex- 
ander, Miller,  Carnahan,  Howell,  Maclean  and  Rice ;  Professors 


Mr.  25.]  LITERARY    RECREATIONS.  339 

Dod,  Henry,*  Jaeger  and  Alexander;  and  Tutors  Stephen 
Alexander,!  Hart,t  and  Wilson.  These  were  delightful  reunions. 
The  older  brother  of  the  two  Alexanders  especially  enjoyed 
them,  but  the  younger  was  not  indifferent  to  their  attractions. 
They  were,  strictly  speaking,  literary  soirees,  and  were  the 
means  of  putting  in  circulation  a  good  deal  of  scientific  and 
other  useful  knowledge.  It  was  evidently  this  association 
with  the  savans  of  the  college,  that  set  Mr.  Alexander  about 
the  perusal  of  such  popular  works  as  Herschel  and  Muclie. 
This  is  almost  the  last  we  shall  hear  of  the  exact  sciences. 
He  never  pursued  these  studies  far,  but  I  am  certain  that  they 
entertained  him.  The  reading  of  Oriental  books  was  still  a 
great  hobby  with  him.  Hebrew  wTas  his  atmosphere  and  his 
sunshine.  It  coloured  him,  as  the  leaf  colours  the  silkworm. 
The  Pentateuch  and  the  Psalms,  and  Biblical  archaeology  and 
antiquities,  were  his  principal  subjects  in  the  Seminary.  In 
the  afternoon  or  evening,  when  his  eyes  began  to  grow  a  little 
heavy  over  Kimchi  and  Michaelis,  he  had  many  a  lively  chat 
with  one  of  the  old  Pomans,  or  with  quaint,  comical  Thomas 
Fuller,  or  Spottiswode,  or  Chrysostom,  or  Jerome,  or  the  mar- 
vellous romancers  of  the  Thousand  and  one  Nights. 

Other  and  more  informal  gatherings  offered  their  attractions 
to  those  who  liked  them.  There  was,  of  course,  much  to  draw 
strangers  to  the  fountains  of  learning  at  and  near  the  college. 
On  Sunday,  August  the  9th,  the  delegates  from  the  Congre- 
gational Union  of  England  visited  Princeton,  and  doubtless 
visited  Dr.  Alexander,  and  could  not  fail  to  excite  the  interest 
of  his  son  Addison,  though  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he 
sought  no  introduction  to  them.  The  foreign  gentlemen  were 
Mr.  Andrew  Reed,  minister  of  Wickliffe  chapel,  Hackney, 
London,  and  Mr.  James  Matheson,  of  Durham,  another  dissent- 

*  Joseph  Henry,  LL.  D.,  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

f  The  present  distinguished  astronomer  of  that  name — not  related  to  the 
subject  of  these  memoirs. 

\  John  S.  Hart,  LL.  D.,  now  principal  of  the  State  Normal  School  situated 
at  Trenton,  N.  J.  See  Forty  Years'  Fam.  Letters  for  further  particulars  in 
regard  to  this  club. 


3i0  KNOWLEDGE    OF    EUROPEAN    POLITICS.  [1834. 

ing  minister.  Mr.  Reed  was  known  as  the  author  of  a  work 
entitled  "  No  Fiction."  Mr.  Matheson  was  the  son  of  Greville 
Ewing,  and  was  said  to  be  a  leader  in  Reform.  It  might  be 
supposed  that  Mr.  Alexander  missed  no  chance  of  seeing  such 
people  and  increasing  his  stock  of  ideas,  which  had  just  been 
enlarged  so  much  by  personal  observation,  as  to  the  manners, 
events,  and  general  state  of  things  abroad.  His  habit  in  this 
respect,  however,  was  somewhat  singular  ;  he  kept  his  room, 
and  saw  only  those  who  called;  but  he  did  not  fail  to  inform 
himself.  His  acquaintance  with  the  contents  of  the  German 
periodicals,  with  the  state  of  English  parties,  and  with  the 
genealogy  of  the  crowned  heads,  to  say  nothing  of  the  max*- 
graves,  electors, archdukes,  count  palatines,  and  other  titled  no- 
bility of  Europe,  exceeded  anything  I  ever  met  with.  He  seemed 
to  know  these  little  minutiae  connected  with  high  life  beyond 
the  Atlantic  exactly  as  a  first-form  boy  at  Eton  is  expected  to 
know  his  quantity.  It  was  just  the  thing  that  suited  him,  to 
wind  in  and  out  through  the  whole  length  of  a  tangled  histori- 
cal  succession,  where  the  name  of  a  given  personage  is  often 
changed  and  concealed  by  the  acquisition  of  his  coronet,  and 
to  be  able  to  tell  you  who  was  who.  No  one  knew,  or  surmised, 
better  than  he  did,  who  at  any  given  moment  was  the  Lord 
Chancellor  of  England,  who  the  Lord  Chief  Justice,  who  the 
Lord  Chief  Baron,  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  &c.  &c. 
carrying  the  thing  down,  in  some  cases,  to  lists  of  ordinary 
knights  and  baronets,  and  their  seats,  and  even  untitled  mem- 
bers of  parliament. 

Let  us  now  turn  once  more  to  the  Journal.  In  the  absence 
of  Dr.  Hodge,  Mr.  Alexander  now  had  the  third  class  almost 
wholly  to  himself.  He  taught  them  Hebrew  and  archaeology. 
They  read  the  Psalms,  which  he  studied  himself  very  carefully 
in  private,  comparing  the  text  with  the  different  versions  and 
commentators.  He  amused  himself  reading  the  Thousand  and 
one  Nights  in  Arabic,  and  learning  Ethiopic  grammar.  He 
also  wrote  a  little  daily  for  the  Repertory.  Early  in  July  he 
finished  a  massive  article  on  the  Antiquity  of  the  Pentateuch, 
founded  upon  one  by  Hengstenberg.     This  should  be  read  as 


2ET.25.]  THE    LITERARY  ASSOCIATION.  341 

an  elaborate  introduction  to  his  work  on  the  Psalms.  He  was 
busy,  during  the  same  month,  at  a  review  of  the  Life  of  Roger 
Williams  by  Professor  Knowles.  "History,"  he  writes,  July 
25,  "is  still  my  amusement."  He  continued  to  be  employed 
pretty  much  in  this  way  throughout  the  summer.  On  Mon- 
days, Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Fridays,  he  heard  the  Third 
class  in  the  seminary  recite  each  day — in  the  morning  on  He- 
brew, in  the  afternoon  on  Biblical  antiquities.  In  Hebrew 
they  were  at  this  time  reading  the  Prophetical  Psalms.  On 
Wednesdays  and  Saturdays  he  had  no  recitations.  On  the 
sixth  of  Ausrust  he  records : 


~o 


"This  afternoon  I  took  up  Cicero's  "Works,  and  rear!  tlie  introduc- 
tory oration  against  Verres  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure.  I  derive 
more  satisfaction  from  the  classics  than  when  I  had  to  teach  them, 
then  it  was  a  task,  now  I  feel  it  to  be  a  pleasure.  I  was  particularly 
interested  with  the  allusions  to  the  politics  of  Rome — electioneering, 
canvassing,  intrigue,  &c,  &c.     How  much  human  nature  is  like  itself!" 

That  evening  the  Literary  Association  met  in  Dr.  Alexan- 
der's parlour ;  it  is  thus  described  by  the  junior  professor : 

"It  is  composed  of  the  faculties  of  the  college  and  seminary,  with 
some  other  literary  characters,  and  is  held  at  the  houses  of  the  members 
in  succession.  Some  subject  is  proposed  at  the  meetings  for  conversa- 
tion, and  occasionally  papers  are  read.  At  this  meeting  Prof.  Henry 
gave  a  verbal  account  of  a  magnetic  needle  which  he  had  invented  for 
the  purpose  of  determining  the  variation.  After  tLis  there  was  a  free 
conversation  on  the  subject  of  lightning-rods ;  and  it  was  agreed  that 
Professor  Henry  should  furnish  something  in  writing  on  the  subject  at 
the  next  meeting.  The  other  gentlemen  present  were  Professors  Trrrey, 
Maclean,  Dod,  Alexander  and  Jaeger,  of  the  college;  Professors  Alexan- 
der and  Miller,  of  the  seminary;  Tutors  Hart,  Alexander  and  "Wilson, 
of  Nassau  Hall,  and  Principal  "Wines,  of  Edgehill." 

The  Journal  is  resumed : 

"August  7th. — I  am  reading  Genesis  in  Hebrew,  with  Bush's  notes, 
for  the  purpose  of  fixing  my  attention.  I  am  also  reading  Jay's  Closet 
Exercises,  morning  and  evening,  with  much  delight." 


342  REPERTORY    ARTICLES.  [1834. 

The  day  previous  he  finished  the  revision  of  his  article  on 
Roger  Williams.  It  was  now  ready  for  the  press.  The  July 
number  of  the  Repertory,  which  had  just  appeared,  contained 
two  articles  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Alexander  :  one  on  German 
New  Light,  another  on  the  Life  of  Rowland  Hill.  The  former 
is  learned  and  satirical,  and  the  latter  is  in  his  happiest  and 
sweetest  vein,  and  might  easily  deceive  most  of  the  admirers 
of  his  brother.  A  third,  on  the  Antiquity  of  the  Art  of  Writing 
was  already  in  the  printer's  hands  for  the  October  number,  and 
on  this  seventh  day  of  August  he  began  an  article  on  Guericke's 
Manual  of  Church  History. 

"My  method,"  he  says,  "is  to  write,  between  twelve  o'clock  and 
dinner,  seldom  more  than  one  hour — often  less.  In  this  way  I  do  not 
feel  the  lahoiir,  and  keep  something  always  ready.  I  am  now  ahead  of 
tlie  press,  and  if  others  do  their  part  I  shall  not  be  hurried  and  dunned 
for  my  contributions." 

He  the  same  clay  lectured  extempore  on  the  twenty-second 
Psalm.  These  oral  and  unwritten  discussions  were  among  his 
most  ingenious  and  masterly  efforts.  They  were  the  free  out- 
pourings of  a  mind  that  was  always  full  to  the  brim. 

He  had  been  reading  Ethiopic  grammar  this  summer,  giving 
a  few  spare  moments  to  it  every  day.  He  finished  Otho's  Com- 
pend  on  the  9th  of  August,  and  immediately  framed  a  purpose 
to  attempt  the  Psalms  in  Walton's  Polyglot.  He  read,  the 
same  clay,  some  chapters  on  Herschefs  Discourse  on  Natural 
Philosophy,  with  the  liveliest  satisfaction.  I  find  the  following 
record  tor 


"August  20. — Finished  FTerschel's  Discourse  on  the  Study  of  Natural 
Philosophy,  from  which  I  have  derived  much  satisfaction.  Many  things 
that  were  once  vague  to  me,  are  now  distinct.  I  have  derived  a  tole- 
rably clear  idea  of  the  inductive  method;  have  met  with  valuable  hints 
as  to  the  means  of  acquiring  knowledge,  and  above  all,  have  experienced 
an  agreeable  and  salutary  excitement.  I  have  read  the  book  chiefly 
in  the  afternoon,  when  my  regular  studies  were  concluded.  The  same 
time  I  shall  now  devote  to  Mudie's  Popular  Guide  to  the  Observation 
of  Nature,  which  I  began  to-day.     My  other  studies  proceed  as  usual." 


^Er.  25.]  EVENING    DIVERSIONS.  343 

It  was  commonly  supposed  that  Mr.  Alexander  had  not 
even  the  elementary  knowledge  in  the  natural  sciences.  The 
realer  is  now  aware  that  this  was  an  error.  During  the  sum- 
mer he  had  read  a  selection  of  the  Psalms  in  Hebrew  with  the 
Third  class.  In  private  he  had  studied  Sanscrit  and  Ethiopic 
grammar.  In  the  evenings  he  had  been  reading  history,  and 
about  the  end  of  the  summer  had  finished  Fuller's  Church  His- 
tory of  Britain.  He  had  then  taken  up  Spottiswode's  History 
of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  read  about  one  half  of  it  very 
closely.  Finding,  however,  that  a  large  proportion  of  the 
work  was  occupied  with  matters  of  mere  civil  interest,  he  had 
confined  himself  thenceforth  to  the  part  which  was  purely 
ecclesiastical.  In  this  way  he  read  the  remainder  of  the  work, 
and  reached  the  end  of  it  about  the  first  of  November.  This 
is  an  exact  resume  of  his  literary  occupations  for  the  season, 
writh  the  exception  of  a  few  unimportant  rambles  among  the 
English  Classics  and  the  Ancients.  Minor  details  are  of  course 
excluded  from  this  summary.  He  also  wrote  on  different  parts 
of  Scripture  for  his  private  use,  five  articles  in  the  Repertory, 
and  one  or  two  little  books. 

The  winter  session  of  the  seminary  opened  on  the  sixth 
of  November.  In  prospect  of  the  duties  of  the  new  term,  he 
records : 

"My  only  regular  public  employment  will  be  the  instruction  of  the 
lower  clas-es  in  Hebrew.  I  have  a  private  class  in  Arabic;  in  private 
I  read  two  chapters  in  Hebrew  daily,  making  scholia  on  them  as  I  go 
along,  by  way  of  preparation  for  minuter  study  afterward.  This  method 
I  commenced  on  the  22d  of  September,  when  I  made  a  calendar  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year,  assigning  to  everyday  a  chapter  in  the  historical, 
and  one  in  the  poetical  books.  "When  I  chance  to  miss  the  lesson  of  a 
day,  I  pass  it  over  and  go  on  to  the  next.  If  at  the  end  of  the  year  I 
like  the  plan  as  well  as  I  do  now,  I  shall  form  a  calendar  for  1835, 
so  as  to  finish  the  Bible  in  a  twelvemonth.  This,  however,  is  not  to 
exclude  the  more  critical  reading  of  other  passages,  and  particularly 
those  which  are  recited  by  the  classes.  My  plan  includes  a  chapter  of 
the  Greek  New  Testament  for  every  day.  This  part  of  it,  however,  I 
have  not  so  fully  executed  as  the  other.     At  this,  as  at  other  times,  I 


344  COLLOQUY    WITH    THREE    BISHOPS.  [1834. 

leave  some  portions  of  my  plan  of  study  to  be  gradually  formed  accord- 
ing to  events.  The  only  additional  items  on  which  I  have  resolved  are 
Sanscrit  and  history.  In  the  former  I  must  resume  the  grammar — in 
the  latter  I  have  not  yet  fixed  upon  a  subject." 

Little  incidents  of  the  time  help  to  take  us  back  to 
the  scenes  in  which  he  moved.  The  Episcopal  Church  (Trinity) 
was  consecrated  in  Princeton  towards  the  close  of  Septem- 
ber. Twenty  clergymen  in  all  were  present,  and  among  them 
three  prelates,  Bishops  White,  Ives,  and  Doane.  The  venera- 
ble andbtioved  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania  preached  a  sermon  of  an 
hour's  length,  and  was  induced  to  stay  and  attend  commence- 
ment, which  was  then  the  last  Wednesday  in  September. 
That  night  the  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander  drank  tea  with  the 
three  Bishops  at  Professor  Dod's,  and  records  his  pleasure  in 
a  letter  to  his  friend  in  Trenton.  Alluding  to  Bishop  White, 
he  says,  it  was  like  being  transported  to  a  purer  air  to  talk 
with  him.  About  this  time  Tutors  J.  S.  Hart  and  Stephen 
Alexander  were  made  adjunct  professors  in  the  College.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Benjaman  H.  Rice,  who  married  a  sister  of  Dr. 
Archibald  Alexander,  the  brother  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  H.  Rice> 
of  Union  Theological  Seminary,  Virginia,  was  now  pas" 
tor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  the  village,  and  sometimes 
made  very  warm  and  powerful  appeals  from  the  pulpit.  He 
had  been  for  years  the  honoured  pastor  of  the  Tabb  street 
Presbyterian  church  in  Petersburg,  and  his  memory  is  still 
precious  in  Virginia.  From  Petersburg  he  went  to  New 
York  as  pastor  of  the  Pearl  street  church,  and  from  New  York 
to  Princeton.  Coleridge  died  this  year  ;  and  the  news  created 
a  stir  in  the  literary  circles  of  academic  Princeton.  Amidst 
these  and  other  changes,  the  new  professor  in  the  Seminary 
moved  on  steadily  in  the  prosecution  of  his  enormous  labours 
as  linguist,  exegete,  lecturer,  review-writer  and  miscellaneous 
reader. 

Few  teachers  have  had  a  greater  fondness  for  keeping  their 
eyes  on  their  pupils  after  the  days  of  tuition  Were  over.  The 
pleasant    gentlemen,  above   all,  and    especially   the   earnest 


.Et.25.]  REMARKS    OF   DR.    SCOTT.  345 

Christians  and  creditable  scholars  were  never  lost  sight  of ;  and 
he  was  always  ready  to  lend  them  a  helping  hand  and  give 
them  brief  but  timely  counsel.  Though  not  fond  of  writing 
letters,  he  has  written  many  to  such  persons  and  for  such  pur- 
poses. His  old  students,  many  of  them,  remember  and  speak 
of  this  trait  in  his  character. 

The  recollections  of  one*  who  is  himself  reputed  to  be  the 
master  of  many  languages,  and  among  them,  a  number  of 
those  with  which  Mr.  Alexander  was  acquainted,  can  hardly 
fail  to  prove  interesting.     He  writes  : 

"  My  personal  acquaintance  with  Addison  Alexander  was  short ; 
altogether  too  short  for  my  good.  When  I  entered  the  Theological  sem- 
inary at  Princeton,  he  was  absent  in  Europe.  When  he  returned  I  was 
for  some  time  in  Lis  classes.  It  became  necessary,  however,  for  me  to 
leave  the  Seminary  before  I  had  finished  the  full  course." 

Mr.  Scott  entered  upon  missionary  labors  in  Louisiana, 
but  prosecuted  his  studies,  till  by  the  aid  of  notes  which  he 
obtained  from  the  manuscripts  of  the  Professor  and  from  fel- 
low students  he  completed  the  careful  study  of  all  the  topics, 
themes,  and  authors  usually  embraced  in  the  Greek  course. 

"Having,  as  you  would  suppose,  some  difficulties  in  the  way,  espe- 
cially in  prosecuting  Syriac  and  Arabic  in  the  cypress  swamps  of  the 
Mississippi  and  Ked  rivers,  I  sougbt  Professor  Alexander's  aid,  and  he 
was  kind  enough  to  write  memoranda  of  books  and  suggestions,  and 
remarks  on  the  languages  from  time  to  time  :  but  I  think  only  two  of 
the  letters  have  escaped  the  ruins  of  removals  and  of  time."  t 

The  writer  always  admired  him  from  the  first  time  he  ever 
saw  him. 

"  His  warm  heart,  his  breadth,  depth  and  originality  of  thinking, 
and  his  method  of  prosecuting  thought,  and  his  prodigious  learning, 
always  charmed  me." 

Sunday  the  19th  day  of  October  was  a  day  darkened  by 

*  Rev.  William  A.  Scott,  D.  D.,  of  New  York, 
f  These  have  perished  or  disappeared. 
15* 


346  DR.  I1ILYER.  [1834. 

heavy  clouds.  Mr.  Alexander  read  aloud  to  his  brother 
James  from  Owen,  and  the  whole  of  John  Howe's  sermon  on 
"  Why  hast  thou  made  all  men  in  vain  ?"  which  both  esteemed 
better  than  Robert  Hall's  on  the  same  text.  Their  father  was 
spending  the  day  at  Burlington,  in  company  with  Professor 
Docl.  Monday  was  signalized  by  a  cold  north-wester,  which 
however  did  not  prevent  Mr.  Alexander  from  arranging  his  new 
chamber  in  the  Seminary.  Tuesday  mai'ks  the  date  of  a  visit 
from  Dr.  Hilyer  of  New  England.  He  remembered  seeing  Dr. 
Alexander  in  Philadelphia  about  1800,  just  before  the  latter 
made  his  trip  to  the  eastern  States.  Dr.  Hilyer  was  at  that 
time  in  great  depression  of  spirits  and  did  not  expect  to  live. 
He  heard  the  young  Virginia  clergyman  preach  from  the  text, 
"  Why  art  thou  cast  down  O  my  soul  ?  "  The  announcement 
of  the  text,  he  said,  was  overwhelming  to  him.  The  troubles 
of  the  next  month  was  known  afterwards  as  ''  the  dark  day." 
Candle  light  continued  till  nine  o'clock  a.  m.  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander  sat  reading  by  a  candle  at  this  hour.  Rain  fell,  and 
a  yellowish  fog  obscured  and  choked  the  atmosphere.  Henry 
Clay  was  in  Princeton  on  the  25th.  These  rapid  touches  may 
serve  to  bring  up  the  picture  of  the  times. 

A  heavy  affliction  was  now  however,  to  darken  the  house 
of  the  elder  brother.  On  Saturday,  December  15,  he  had  gone 
after  tea  to  his  brother's  new  study  in  the  Seminary,  and  had 
there  spent  an  hour  or  two  in  reading  and  conversation.  On  his 
return  to  his  own  house,  where  he  had  left  his  little  son  Archi- 
bald, he  learned  that  he  had  been  seized  with  a  croupy  hoarse- 
ness. The  disease  was  rapid  and  fatal.  When  the  daylight 
of  Monday  came,  the  father  perceived  with  agony  that  one 
nio'ht  had  made  him  a  mere  wreck.  He  had  been  a  blooming 
fresh  and  hearty  little  boy ;  he  was  now  become  pallid,  wan,  and 
hazard.  Not  lo'„g  before  he  was  released  from  his  sufferings 
he  tried  to  sing.  He  also  put  up  his  hands  and  said,  "  I  want 
to  say  my  prayers."  He  passed  away  with  but  little  pain. 
He  was  the  third  son  of  his  father,  and  was  a  great  favorite 
with  his  grandfather,  and  indeed  with  the  whole  bouse.  He 
was  a  little  over  two  years  old.     The  father's  comments  on  the 


Mt.25.i  STUDIES    OF    THE    BROTHERS.  347 

e-vent  are  recorded  in  his  unpublished  diary.  It  was  he  says, 
"a  lapse  into  slumber.  *  *  I  feel  a  blessed  consolation  in  the 
belief  that  this  dear  lamb  is  safely  gathered  into  Christ's 
bosom." 

This  sad  blow  brought  grief  to  the  hearts  of  all  the  re- 
lations, and  among  them  to  one  who  was  thought  by  many  to 
be  hard  and  unfeeling,  but  who  was  as  soft  and  gentle  as  he 
was  strong  and  at  times  imperious.  His  studies  went  on  much 
as  usual,  though  Mr.  Alexander  was  always  varying  the  par- 
ticular's of  his  scheme. 

Mr.  James  Alexander  meanwhile  was  busy  with  his  classes, 
and  writing  for  the  Repertory  and  the  Presbyterian,  of  which 
newspaper  he  was  still  the  editor,  as  well  as  working  for  the 
New  Jersey  Lyceum.  Like  his  brother  at  the  Seminary,  he 
gave  himself  no  rest,  and  made  it  a  point  to  read  all  great  and 
good  books  that  reached  his  hands,  besides  many  volumes  which 
he  could  not  fully  commend.  He  was  a  most  rapid  reader.  He 
was  now  upon  Simeon's  works,  Guericke's  History  of  the  Church, 
Fichte,  Hegel,  Fuller,  Wordsworth,  Neander,  Coleridge's  Aids 
to  Reflection,  David  Russell's  Letters,  Butler's  Lives  of  the 
Saints,  Hannah  More's  Life,  besides  many  reviews  and  pam- 
phlets and  much  in  Hebrew,  Latin,  Greek,  and  German.  He 
was  buying  up  works  on  Hebrew,  English,  and  Anglo  Saxon. 
He  wras  richly  acquainted  in  the  principal  modern  languages, 
and  in  several  others  that  are  not  generally  known.  He  was 
also  full  of  schemes  of  literary  usefulness  and  practical  benev- 
olence. He  had  the  Juniors  five  times  a  week  in  the  De  Ora- 
tore  of  Tully.  He  also  delivered  occasional  lectures  to  them. 
He  filled  a  volume  or  more  every  year  with  diary  accounts  of 
the  weather,  descriptions  of  people  and  incidents,  and  of  natural 
scenery,  recorded  conversations,  plans  of  sermons,  Latin  pray- 
ers and  marginalia,  French  epistles,  elaborate  quotations,  com- 
ments and  criticisms,  abundant  sketches  of  character,  religious 
confessions,  sportive  effusions  of  fancy,  and  every  species  of 
agreeable  and  instructive  reading ;  the  whole  done  in  a  style 
of  composition  and  penmanship  that  might  excite  the  envy  of 
many  a  famous  litterateur.    His  sensibility  to  fine  sights,  sweet 


348  BEARING   IN    HIS    PRIVATE    CLASSES.  [1834 

sounds,  animating  temperature,  and  the  charms  of  art  and  lit- 
erature, was  of  the  most  exquisite  sort  and  the  most  tremu- 
lous acuteness.     But  we  must  return  to  the  subject  before  us. 

It  is  amusing  to  go  back  to  the  childish  and  youthful  days 
of  the  restless  commentator,  and  to  his  father's  remark  in 
one  of  his  letters  to  Mrs.  Graham  that  Addison  had  a  repug- 
nance to  teaching.  In  after  life,  in  addition  to  his  regular 
classes  in  the  Theological  Seminary,  Professor  Addison  Alex- 
ander was  seldom  without  private  pupils  who  came  to  his 
room,  and  hardly  ever  without  a  small  class  or  two  of  enthu- 
siastic orientalists,  generally  the  pick  of  the  Seminary,  who 
also  frequented  his  study  at  certain  hours  and  had  a  larger  and 
more  genial  experience  of  their  preceptor's  extraordinary 
mental  vivacity  and  the  bursting  fulness  of  his  animal  spirits 
and  social  good  humour  than  any  others.  His  punctuality  on 
these  occasions  often  cut  short  these  agreeable  interviews  in 
the  very  middle. 

During  the  years  1834  and  1835,  Messrs.  Hugh  N.  Wilson 
(now  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wilson)  and  John  S.  Hart  were  associated 
in  the  tutorship  of  the  College.  Being  of  kindred  tastes  they 
employed  all  their  spare  hours  together  in  linguistic  studies. 
Having  read  together  nearlv  the  whole  of  Herodotus  and  about 
two-thirds  of  the  Hebrew  Bible,  they  determined  to  begin 
the  study  of  Arabic,  and  applied  to  Mr.  Alexander  to  teach 
them.  Although  the  application  involved  a  serious  tax  upon 
his  time,  he  gave  a  most  ready  assent,  and  appointed  the  hour 
from  nine  to  ten  of  every  evening  for  the  purpose.  He  was 
occupying  at  that  time  rooms  in  the  basement  of  the  Seminary 
Chapel,  and  hither  every  night  (except  Sunday)  for  nearly  a 
whole  year,  the  two  young  men  resorted,  no  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  even  in  one  instance  preventing  their  attendance. 
Knowing  how  precious  was  the  privilege  accorded  to  them, 
they  felt  disposed  to  avail  themselves  of  the  advantage  to  the 
utmost.  During  this  course  they  went  through  the  Arabic 
Grammar  under  his  instruction,  and  read  the  whole  of  the 
Koran  except  the  last  two  or  three  chapters.  In  this  course 
of  reading  and  study,  besides  the  knowlege  of  Arabic,  they 


jEt.25.]  TESTIMONY   OF    PROFESSOR    HART.  349 

received  continually  frequent  hints  and  suggestions  such  as 
might  be  expected  from  a  man  of  his  ripe  general  scholar- 
ship. 

"Nor  were  oriental  learning  and  linguistics  the  only  topics  of  that 
favoured  hour.  Never  was  teacher  more  genial  or  more  freely  com- 
municative, and  after  tlie  lesson  of  the  evening  was  finished,  other 
topics  connected  with  literature  and  theology  came  up,  and  we  drew  at 
will  from  the  exhaustlesa  fountain  open  to  us.  Nor  did  we  often  go 
away  with  our  buckets  empty." 

Before  beginning  this  arrangement,  he  told  them  with  some 
distinctness  that  he  would  give  them  an  hour,  and  they  under- 
stood from  his  manner  that  a  moment  beyond  the  hour  would 
be  counted  as  an  encroachment.  Knowing  well  his  peculiari- 
ties, they  were  careful  to  leave  precisely  at  the  striking  of 
the  clock,  no  matter  how  interesting  might  be  the  topic  u.der 
discussion.  They  were  equally  careful  never  to  enter  his 
room  a  minute  before  the  time,  even  if  they  had  to  stand  out 
in  the  cold  for  the-  clock  to  strike. 

"This  quiet  and  precise  punctuality,"  writes  one  of  them,*  "  seemed 
greatly  to  please  him,  and  reconciled  him  evidently  to  bearing  with  u? 
longer  than  perhaps  he  might  else  have  done.  For  he  always  managed 
to  make  us  feel  perfectly  welcome,  and  poured  out  the  resources  of  his 
learning  for  us  with  unbroken  profusion  up  to  the  sixtieth  minute. 
But  when  that  moment  came,  the  stream  of  talk  suddenly  stopped. 
There  was  not  a  word  to  be  said :  he  was  ready  to  return  once  more  to 
his  silent  studies." 

He  then  goes  on  as  follows  : 

"  No  hours  of  my  life  have  been  hours  of  greater  intellectual  activ- 
ity and  pleasure  than  those  now  described.  There  is  something  par- 
ticularly quickening  and  stimulating  in  this  kind  of  intercourse  with 
a  man  of  genius,  and  I  felt  my  own  mental  energy  taking  fire  from 
Lis." 

The  impression  which  he  made  upon  them  in  this  familiar 
encounter  of  mind  with  mind,  was  that  of 

*  Dr.  Hirt. 


350  TRIBUTE    BY    DR.   WILSON.  0334 

"  a  man  of  prodigious  intellectual  strength  united  with  prodigious  in- 
tellectual activity.  It  was  the  power  of  the  locomotive,  and  the  speed 
of  the  telegraph  united  in  one  machine.  Indeed  the  most  noticeable 
thing  about  him  was  the  general  roundness  and  completeness  of  his 
powers.  There  are  numerous  instances  on  record  of  his  prodigious 
power  of  memory.  I  have  myself  recorded  one  feat  of  this  kind. 
But  the  mnemonic  power  is  usually  accompanied  with  a  weakness  in 
some  of  the  other  faculties.  In  him,  on  the  contrary,  every  other 
intellectual  power,  reason,  imagination,  fancy,  attention,  judgment, 
and  so  forth,  seemed  to  have  an  equal  development.  He  excelled  ac- 
cordingly in  everything  which  he  undertook.  He  did  not  often  indulge 
in  personal  reminiscences.  One  of  these,  which  I  remember,  described 
the  change  of  views  he  had  undergone  while  in  Europe  in  regard  to 
the  character  of  Napoleon  I.  He  said  that  he  had  gone  abroad  with 
that  view  of  Napoleon's  character  once  nearly  universal  in  this 
country,  and  derived  from  our  familiarity  with  English  literature.  It 
was  in  fact  Napoleon  as  seen  by  Englishmen  who  did  him  the  greatest 
injustice.  His  remark  was,  that  in  every  part  of  Europe  which  he  visi- 
ted he  saw  proofs  of  the  constructive,  regenerating,  and  beneficent 
power  of  Napoleon  as  a  civil  ruler.  It  is  not  impertinent,  I  suppose, 
in  this  familiar  memorandum,  for  me  to  say  just  here  that  we  college 
boys  always  used  to  see  in  Addison's  head  a  remarkable  likeness  to 
Napoleon." 

This  fine  tribute  is  confirmed  by  the  language  of  the  other 
pupils  in  this  class.  Dr.  Wilson  also  mentions  one  or  two 
things  omitted  by  his  friend,  and  gives  a  few  recollections  of 
an  earlier  date. 

"My  acquaintance  with  Dr.  Alexander  dates  back  to  the  time  of  his 
entrance  upon  public  life.  At  that  time  Professor  Patton  had  just 
opened  Edgehill  School — of  which  Addison  Alexander  was  one  of  the 
first  teachers;  and  there  he  prepared  his  edition  of  Donin  gan's  Lexi- 
con. Prominent  among  the  young  men  of  Princeton,  and  in  the- circle 
of  his  friends  at  this  time,  were  John  C.  Young,  Albert  Dod,  Kezeau 
Brown,  and  Samuel  "Winchester ;  all  of  whom,  alas  !  are  now,  like  him, 
numbered  with  the  dead. 

Dr.  Hart  has  probably  mentioned  our  Arabic  studies  with  him.  I 
do  not  remember  to  have  seen  any  notice  of  the  long  narrow  note- 
book which  always  lay  upon  his  study  table,  waiting,  it  would  seem, 
for  some  inspiring  thought  or  treasured  sentiment,  and  waiting  not  in 


Mr.  25.J  BIBLICAL    AND    ORIENTAL    LABOURS.  351 

vain.  Day  after  day  we  could  see  that  new  pages  were  turned,  and 
that  the  numbers,  (for  each  jotting  was  carefully  numbered)  rose  con- 
tinually higher." 

The  minute  chronicle  of  Mr.  Alexander's  life  which  fol- 
lows will  be  interesting  to  scholars  and  the  lovers  of  per- 
sonal detail.  During  the  month  of  December  he  pursued  the 
various  subjects  mentioned  in  his  last  entry  and  added  new 
ones.  The  third  class  were  now  under  his  direction,  and  read- 
ing the  history  of  the  flood  in  Genesis.  In  the  way  of  an 
expository  lecture  the  instructor  treated  the  class  to  an  extem- 
poraneous and  lively  commentary  upon  the  history  of  Joseph* 
At  each  recitation,  too,  an  essay  was  read  upon  a  subject  as- 
signed by  the  teacher,  and  relating  directly  to  the  subjects 
upon  which  the  class  were  engaged.  With  the  second  class  ho 
read  Isaiah.     On  Dec.  the  31st  he  records, 

"  We  liave  to-day  finished  the  sixth  chapter.  This  employs  me 
more  or  less  during  the  week,  though  I  meet  the  class  only  on  Wed- 
nesday morning.  Besides  studying  the  text  itself,  I  compare  the  an- 
cient and  modern  versions,  and  the  notes  of  Ohrysostoin,  Jerome, 
Theodoret,  Jarchi,  Aben-Ezra,  Kimchi,  Calvin,  Michaelis,  Grotius, 
Vitringa,  Gesenius  and  Hitzig.1' 

• 

In  private  he  had  continued  the  plan  of  reading  Hebrew 
daily,  and  I  find  him  at  this  date  making  out  a  calendar  for 
1835.  His  Arabic  class  had  read  the  extracts  appended  to 
Rosenmtiller's  Grammar,  and  more  than  filty  verses  in  the 
Koran.  It  also  appears  from  his  diary  that  he  was  not 
without  the  stimulus  of  companionship  in  some  of  his  private 
studies,  and  that  he  was  thoroughly  interested  in  the  lan- 
guages of  Upper  India.     He  writes, 

"  I  am  teaching  Hebrew,  and  A.  A.  Hodge  Greek.    I  read  a 

little  Sanscrit  daily.  I  am  now  engaged  upon  '  Neafs  History  of  the  Puri- 
tans ;'  which  I  read  at  night.  I  have  written  two  more  articles  for  the 
Repertory  which  will  appear  in  the  forthcoming  number.  They  are 
both  reviews — the  one  of  Charles  Stewart's  'Travels  in  .England,'  the 
other  of  '  Bush's  Commentary  on  the  Psalms.'  " 


352  PLAN   OF   STUDY.  [1834. 

He  had  completed  one  of  his  books  for  the  American  Sun- 
day School  Union,  and  had  abandoned  the  other.  The  sub- 
ject  was  the  Life  of  Elijah.  Another  on  the  same  subject  had 
just  been  purchased  by  the  "  Union,"  "  and  the  execution  of 
music,"  writes  the  modest  author,  is  not  satisfactory  to  myself 
or  others.  One  has  curiosity  to  know  where  the  fault  lay  1 
This  wish  is  not  gratified.     I  again  return  to  the  Journal. 

"  I  finished  the  first  book  of  Eusebius's  Ecclesiastical  History  last 
week.    I  read  it  alternately  with  Josephus." 

One  should  have  gathered  from  what  comes  next  that  Mr. 
Alexander  had  not  always  been  the  most  exact  and  punctual 
of  clock-work  scholars. 

"  I  have  gradually  fallen  into  a  pretty  systematic  plan  of  study, 
which  with  the  leave  of  Providence  I  shall  retain  in  the  coming  year. 
The  most  that  I  ever  read  before  family  prayers  in  the  morning,  is  a 
chapter  of  the  New  Testament  in  Greek.  Between  breakfast  and  pray- 
ers I  re  id  Sanscrit.  After  breakfast  I  prepare  for  the  lecture  or  reci- 
tation of  the  day,  and  pursue  my  private  studies  in  Hebrew.  Two 
hours  at  noon  are  appropriated  to  exercise  and  dinner.  In  the  after- 
noon I  study  Isaiah  and  intend  to  take  half  an  hour  for  writing.  An 
hour  and  a  half  is  assigned  to  public  and  private  devotion.  Three 
evenings  in  the  week  I  read  Arabic  with  my  private  class.  An  hour 
at  n'ght  I  give  to  Eusebius  and  Josephus,  alternately,  another  to  The- 
ology (Turretin  at  present),  and  another  to  writing.  Before  I  go  to 
bed  I  read  the  newspapers  or  Neafs  History  of  the  Puritans,  as  I  feel 
inclined." 

Then  we  have  this  solemn  prayer  and  dedication  of  himself 
to  God : 

"  May  the  next  year  be  a  happy  one,  intellectually  and  spiritually  1 
May  less  time  be  wasted  than  in  any  former  year!  May  my  faculties 
be  better  employed  than  ever  before !  May  I  be  more  entirely  devoted 
to  my  Master's  service !  May  I  daily  grow  in  grace  and  in  mastery 
over  sin!  May  all  my  studies  and  employments  be  blessed  to  the 
sanctification  of  my  soul !  The  Lord  in  mercy  grant  it  for  the  Saviour's 
sake." 


Mr.  25.  HIS   NEW    CHAIR.  353 

There  is  little  to  show  what  he  was  doing  in  the  year 
1835.  At  least  outside  of  his  study  and  his  class-room.  His 
correspondence,  which  was  almost  exclusively  with  Dr.  Hall, 
is  altogether  barren  of  incident,  and  his  diary  as  usual,  is  chiefly 
taken  up  with  the  record  of  his  daily  studies.  The  truth  is  he 
was  now  stretching  himself  like  an  athlete  in  preparation  for 
the  great  tasks  of  his  life.  One  day  was  as  another  and  yet 
more  abundant  in  the  spoil  of  conquered  languages  and  trib- 
utary literatures.  He  was  learning  every  hour  something 
new  about  the  Bible  and  his  own  heart.  He  was  in  the  spring- 
tide of  early  manhood.  He  was  the  picture  of  florid  health. 
He  was  full  of  animal  spirits,  and  was  an  enigma  of  muscular, 
nervous,  and  mental  force.  He  was  becoming  accustomed  to 
his  post  in  the  seminary,  and  began  to  find  it  delightfully  con- 
genial to  his  tastes  and  suited  to  his  powers.  There  was  only 
one  drawback.  He  was  growing  more  and  more  in  love  with 
Greek,  with  Europe,  with  the  New  Testament.  His  predom- 
inant inclination  was  no  longer  what  it  once  was.  He  found 
himself  perpetually  lured  away  from  his  Oriental  studies  into 
what  he  regarded  as  forbidden  paths.  There  was  therefore  a 
conflict  of  purposes  or  desires  in  his  mind  which  he  feared 
might  be  prejudicial  to  his  highest  success,  but  which  in  the 
wisdom  of  Providence  wras  overruled  and  made  a  singular 
blessing  to  the  Church. 

The  winter  of  1835  in  Princeton  was  cold.  On  Wednes- 
day the  7th  of  January  the  thermometer  went  down  five  de- 
grees below  zero,  and  the  snow  was  hai*d  on  the  ground.  On 
that  day  Mr.  Alexander  walked  upon  the  crust  to  see  his 
brother  James,  who  was  unwell ;  and  found  him  enjoying  the 
Olney  Hymns.  Princeton  in  those  days  seems  to  have  been 
agog  with  rumors.  For  instance,  it  was  said  that  an  attempt 
had  been  made  upon  the  life  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States ;  and  then  that  Calhoun  and  Benton  had  fought  a  duel, 
in  which  the  latter  was  killed  and  the  former  wounded. 
There  was  also  much  talk  of  a  possible  war  with  France, 
March  came  in  like  a  lion ;  and  though  there  wrere  occasional 
vernal  appearances,  and  blue  birds  were   twittering  in   the 


354  MESSIANIC    INTERPRETATION.  [1834. 

warm  sunshine,  yet  the  snow  soon  returned  with  great  vio- 
lence. The  rough  gales  seem  to  have  blown  good  to  Mr.  Al- 
exander, for  it  brought  him  a  Danish  manuscript  which  was 
in  ai'ter  years  a  source  of  considerable  pleasure  to  him.  On 
Wednesday  the  first  of  April,  the  clerical  meeting  was  held 
at  Dr.  Miller's.  The  subjects  of  discussion  were  the  estab- 
lishment of  lectures  against  Popery ;  the  superficial  cast  of 
the  age  ;  the  republication  of  Boyle's  religious  woi-ks  ;  Dick's 
Theology  ;  Moral  Philosophy  ;  &c. 

But  we  turn  back  to  the  Journal.  On  the  14th  of  Janu- 
ary, Mr.  Alexander  finished  the  seventh  chapter  of  Isaiah 
with  the  second  class. 

"  It  is,"  he  writes,  "  indeed  a  most  difficult  scripture." 

What  follows,  relative  to  the  great  German  Commentator 
and  his  theory,  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest  to  the  intelligent 
reader : 

"  Hengstenberg  has  convinced  me  that  the  Messianic  interpretation 
is  encumbered  with  fewer  difficulties  than  any  other.  But  the  diffi- 
culties which  it  has  are  very  serious.  I  am  especially  at  a  loss  how  to 
interpret  the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  verses  in  consistency  with  Hengs- 
tenberg's  hypothesis.  I  am  very  far,  however,  from  being  willing  to 
abandon  it.  It  does  not  follow,  because  I  cannot  explain  everything 
according  to  a  theory,  that  the  theory  is  false.  There  maybe  positive 
evidence  sufficient  to  establish  it  beyond  the  reach  of  doubt,  though  a 
thousand  difficulties  still  beset  it." 

He  was,  at  this  time,  suddenly  visited  with  another  fervor 
on  the  subject  of  geography,  and  this  time  for  geography 
viewed  in  its  connections  with  history. 

"I  have  been  thinking,  "  he  says,  "of  a  plan  for  geographico-his- 
torical  research.  It  is  to  select  some  portion  of  the  globe  and  make  it 
the  object  of  particular  and  long  continued  attention.  I  shall,  probably, 
choose  Africa  at  present,  and  my  design  is  to  go  back  as  far  as  I  can, 
and  ascertain  what  the  first  intimations  are  which  history  affords 
respecting  that  vast  continent.     I  had  scarcely  formed  this  plan  when 


.Ex.  25.]  ENGLISH   REVIEWS.  355 

I  came  upon  a  passage  in  Josephus  exactly  to  my  purpose.  It  is  in  his 
Archaeology,  Book  I.,  chapter  16,  page  24,  D.  E.,  Geneva  edition,  1011, 
where  he  traces  the  name  Africa,  to  Epher,  the  second  son  of  Michan 
(Genesis,  xxv:  4)  on  the  authority  of  Alexander  Polyhistor.' 

On  January  the  16th  he  expresses  a  strong  contempt  for 
Antony  Theodor  Ilartmann.  His  own  language  is  amusingly 
vigorous  and  racy : 

"  The  preface  to  his  book  on  the  Pentateuch  is  very  absurd.  The 
cant  of  the  Rationalists  about  love  of  truth,  philosophy,  Kritisch  and 
Cnkrttisch,  turns  lny  stomach.  Hengstenberg*  has  more  sense  in  his 
little  finger  than  these  men  in  their  loins.  Hitzig  on  Isaiah  is  disgust- 
ing. He  is  far  worse  than  Gesenius,  more  unblushing  and  malignant ; 
his  remarks  on  the  offer  of  a  sign  to  Ahaz  (ch.  6)  are  worthy  of  Tom 
Paine." 

And  then  he  breaks  out  in  his  vehement  way  : 

"John  Pye  Smith  and  Moses  Stuart  give  up  the  prophecy  in  Isaiah. 
They  may  give  up  what  they  please  for  me.  "While  the  Germans  are 
groping  their  way  back  from  infidelity,  we  are  slowly  (?)  moving  to- 
wards it." 

He  continued  his  lectures  on  Isaiah. 

"February  18. — To-night  I  have  been  reading  Thomas  Aquinas  on 
Original  S'n,  and  find  it  very  entertaining.  The  method  is  so  perfectly 
mechanical  and  uniform,  that  I  lose  sight  of  it  completely,  and  think 
only  of  the  thoughts  presented. 

"March  7. — I  have  been  reading  Vol.  Ill  of  the  Quarterly  Review 
(Feb.-May,  1810).  For  some  reason  old  periodicals  please  me  more  than 
new  ones.  Time  seems  to  mellow  them.  I  am  very  fond  of  reviews. 
The  variety  of  topics  is  entertaining,  the  rather  as  there  is  no  methodical 
arrangement;  while  the  unity  of  form  and  spirit  distinguish  works  of 
this  sort  from  miscellaneous  magazines.  The  articles  in  this  volume  are 
very  unequal,  but  almost  all  bear  the  impress  of  classical  scholarship 
and  general  refinement.     Whether  the  subject  be  political  economy, 

*  The  Biblical  Repertory  fairly  groaned  under  the  burden  of  allusion  to  this 
writer,  imposed  upon  it  by  Mr.  Alexander. 


356  MISCELLANEOUS    READING.  [1835. 

politics  or  poetry,  there  is  still  an  air  of  gentlemanly  elegance  that  com- 
mands respect.  There  is  great  diversity  in  point  of  tact  as  well  as  tasto 
throughout  the  volume." 

In  the  entry  which  follows  he  gives  his  views  of  the  com- 
parative merits  of  two  articles  on  the  same  subject,  though 
under  different  covers.  His  mental  ingenuity  is  always  appa- 
rent when  he  begins  to  compare  and  analyze. 

"  M'arch  9. — "Walsh's  letter  on  the  Genesis  of  the  French  Government 
is  revived  in  the  Quarterly  for  Feb.  1810,  and  in  the  Ediuburgh  for 
April,  1810.  I  like  to  compare  such  articles.  The  one  in  the  Edin- 
burgh is  written  with  far  more  vivacity  and.  ease  of  style,  and  exhibits 
a  high  degree  of  stirring  popular  eloquence,  but  it  is  flippant  and  law- 
yer-like. The  Quarterly  article  is  careless  and.  unequal,  but  dignified 
and  serious,  with  an  air  of  sincerity  which  is  wanting  in  the  other. 
Its  style,  though  less  pointed,  is  also  less  monotonous  ;  and  there  are 
passages  here  and  there,  which  in  classical  richness  and  depth  of  moral 
tone  have  nn  parallel  in  the  Scotch  review.  It  may  be  fancy,  but  I 
think  I  can  mark  the  contrast  between  the  scholar  and  the  advocate, 
even  when  both  are  merged  in  the  politician." 

Mr.  Alexander  with  all  his  passion  for  hard  reading  was 
always  a  great  lover  of  miscellaneous  literature,  even  in  the 
more  restricted  and  popular  sense  of  these  words ;  and  used 
to  hang  with  delight  over  the  English  Quarterlies,  when  those 
great  journals  were  at  their  zenith,  in  the  days  of  Jeffrey, 
Sydney  Smith,  Horner,  Canning,  Gifford,  and  their  able  con- 
freres. One  of  his  younger  brothers  informed  me  that  Mr. 
Alexander's  acquaintance  with  current  literature,  which  was 
something:  that  never  ceased  to  excite  the  astonishment  of 
those  who  knew  him  best  and  saw  him  most  constantly,  was 
due  originally  to  the  fact  that  he  made  it  a  point  to  read  al- 
most everything  in  the  Quarterly  and  Edinburgh  Reviews 
during  nearly  the  whole  period  of  the  unchallenged  supremacy 
of  these  great  critical  organs.  This  not  only  afforded  con- 
tinual refreshment  to  his  mind,  but  enabled  him  to  know  with 
accuracy  where  to  meet  with  what  he  wanted  in  volumes  in 
which  the  information  was  to  be  obtained  at  first-hand.     Mr. 


^r.  25.]  BIBLE    STUDY.  357 

Alexander  was  never  satisfied  with,  the  gatherings  of  others 
he  was  not  content  unless  he  could  gather  for  himself.     His 
main  end  here,  however,  was  pure  recreation. 

The  month  of  April  found  him  as  busily  engaged  as  ever. 
He  was  still  interested  in  geography,  especially  the  geography 
of  the  Bible.  He  was  reading  Greek  and  Hebrew  in  vast 
quantities.  He  was  approving  himself  a  workman  that  needed 
not  to  be  ashamed. 

"April  13. — I  continued  my  collections  for  a  Hebrew  Reader,  and 
read  Genesis  iii  with  the  third  class.  I  began  to  prepare  for  my  lec- 
ture on  Galilee,  writing  on  the  interleaved  copy  of  my  geography. 
Since  the  beginning  of  the  year  I  have  read  the  Pentateuch,  Job,  and 
Joshua  in  Hebrew ;  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  Eomans,  1st  and  2nd  Cor- 
inthians, Galatians,  Philemon,- and  James  in  Greek." 


CHAPTER   XI. 

Friday,  the  24th,  was  Mr.  Alexander's  2Gth  birthday,  on 
which  occasion  his  brother  James  writes,  "  Gratia,  misericordia 
et  pax,  a  deo  triuno,  semper  super  fratrem  dilectissimum 
maneat !  "  The  joys  of  this  fraternal  intercourse  will  never 
be  fully  comprehended  by  those  who  have  been  left  behind  them 
and  who  did  not  witness  the  occasions  when  the  two  scholars 
met.  Recent  memories  of  such  meetings  no  doubt  partly  pi'ompt- 
ed  these  warm  ejaculations  of  piety  and  brotherly  love.  The 
affections  of  the  elder  born  were  radiant  and  diffusive,  and  were 
fixed  with  a  special  and  unalterable  fondness  upon  "  Addison." 
But  he  the  younger,  had  small  acquaintance  of  the  kind  that 
ripens  into  intimate  friendship  ;  and  with  his  manly  impulsive 
heart  he  spent  his  feelings  with  all  the  greater  absence  of  re- 
straint and  with  all  the  more  intense  devotion,  on  a  few. 
Chief  among  these  few  were  the  members  of  his  own  family, 
and  the  dearest  of  his  companions  and  friends  was  "  James." 

Let  us  now  take  a  look  out  of  the  professor's  window,  and 
see  what  was  going  on  around  him  in  Princeton  and  a  neigh- 
bouring city.  The  Linden  trees  were  half  out  early  in  May. 
Lilachs  were  in  full  leaf,  and  ready  to  burst  into  flower.  The 
grass  was  everywhere  becoming  green.  The  Seminary  exam- 
ination occurred  on  the  6th ;  Dr.  Green  presided.  In  the 
afternoon  Dr.  Green  dismissed  the  students  with  the  customary 
address. 

This  was  the  month  of  the  Anniversaries  in  New  York, 
and  Mr.  Alexander  went  on  to  hear  the  speakers.  I  find 
him  on  the  11th  at  the  meeting  of  the  Sunday  School  Union 
and  of  the  Assemby's  Board  of  Education.  On  the  12th  he 
"  stepped  into  the  Anti-Slavery  meeting  "  and  heard  Birney, 


Mr.  26.]  OLD   AND   NEW    SCHOOL.  359 

and  George  Thompson  of  Liverpool  make  speeches ;  after 
which  he  went  to  the  Anniversary  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety, where  he  heard  Dr.  Bethune,  Dr.  Ilewett  and  Dr.  John 
Breckinridge ;  from  thence  he  went  to  the  Peace  Society,  and 
at  night  to  the  adjourned  meeting  of  the  Colonization  Society. 
A  Krooman  and  several  Africans  were  on  the  stage. 

He  soon  returned  and  began  to  crowd  his  great  folio  blank- 
book  with  entries  relating  chiefly  to  his  studies. 

What  comes  next  will  be  attractive  to  those  who  retain  an 
interest  in  the  great  battle  between  the  Old  and  New  Schools. 
The  Assembly  was  at  this  time  in  session  at  Pittsburg. 

"  May  15. — We  are  all  agape  to  hear  something  from  the  Conven- 
tion and  Assembly.  The  session  of  the  latter  has  been,  for  several 
years,  looked  forward  to  with  lively  interest,  hut  never  with  so  much 
as  now.  There  is  this  singularity  ahout  tlie  present  ca*e, — that  public 
expectation  has  reference,  not  to  some  one  specific  question,  which  is 
likely  to  come  up,  but  to  the  whole  tenour  of  the  Assembly's  proceed- 
ings; or,  in  other  words,  to  the  relative  strength  of  parties.  This  may, 
or  may  not  be  indicated  by  the  choice  of  Moderator.  For  several 
years  this  first  step  has  been  taken  by  mutual  consent,  without  dis- 
pute." 

In  the  next  entry  he  returns  for  a  moment  to  his  quiet  oc- 
cupations at  home ;  but  is  soon  beguiled  again  to  the  topic  of 
faxination. 

"May  26. — I  finished  my  inspection  of  Luther's  letters,  and  the 
first  draft  of  the  first  part  of  my  Archaeological  Catechism." 

He  hails  with  delight  the  first  tidings  from  the  Assembly. 

"  We  hear  to-day  from  Pittsburg,  that  Dr.  Miller  preached  the  open- 
ing sermon  in  the  absence  of  the  last  Moderator,  and  that  then  a  very 
curious,  and  I  suppose  unexpected  trial  of  strength  took  place.  Dr. 
Ely  nominated  Dr.  Beman ;  on  the  ground  that  he  was  the  latest  Mod- 
erator present  as  a  commissioner.  He  was  voted  into  the  chair;  but 
not  long  after  (I  forget  whether  at  the  same  or  another  session)  he  was 
excluded  and  Dr.  W.  McDoweH  substituted.  Now,  so  far  as  I  can  dis- 
cover from  the  book,  it  lay  entirely  with  the  Assembly  to  select  any 


360  SCRIPTURE    READING.  ri835. 

person  as  their  temporary  chairman.  There  "was  no  rule  requiring  that 
he  should  have  once  been  Moderator  ;  much  less  that  after  he  was  ap- 
pointed he  should  be  thrown  out  to  make  room  for  another  not  a 
member  of  the  body,  simply  because  he  had  been  Moderator  since.  I 
draw  the  conclusion,  therefore,  that  the  exclusion  of  Beman  was  a 
party  act  and  a  sufficient  index  of  the  prevailing  power.  This  is  con- 
firmed by  the  fact  that  Dr.  Phillips,  who  was  nominated  by  Dr.  Miller, 
was  elected  Moderator  by  a  majority  of  100  (I  write  from  recollection) 
though  not  only  an  Old  School  man,  but  an  Act  and  Testimony  one. 
Though  I  can  easily  suppose  that  some  of  the  New  School  men,  accord- 
ing to  custom,  joined  the  majority  to  avoid  defeat.  I  cannot  help  re- 
garding this  election  as  a  proof  that  the  Old  School  party  is  decidedly 
predominant.     Quod felix faustumque  sit!  " 

On  the  second  of  June  he  wrote  several  sheets  towards  a 
revise  of  Bush's  Hebrew  Grammar.  Besides  his  daily  lessons 
in  Scripture,  he  read  nine  chapters  in  Hebrew  with  Vitringa's 
analysis.  This  was  to  be  the  subject  of  his  readings  with  the 
second  class  this  summer;  and  he  wished  to  get  it  familiar  to 
his  mind  in  its  general  connection,  instead  of  becoming  familiar 
with  it  p'ecemeal,  which  he  found  the  winter  before  to  be 
"very  disadvantageous.''  "The  minute  verbal  study  of  these 
chapters,"  he  writes,  "  I  shall  leave  to  be  attended  to 
from  week  to  week." 

The  next  record  gives  among  other  things,  further  state- 
ments concerning  the  Assembly  and  its  doings. 

"  June  10. — I  rend  Isaiah,  xl. — xlviii.  in  Hitzig's  German  version, 
comparing  it  with  that  of  Gesenius  and  with  the  original.  I  also  read  the 
chapters  in  Hengs'.enberg's  Christ ologie,  on  the  nature  of  prophetical  in- 
spiration. It  is  announced  to-day  in  print  that  John  Breckinridge  has 
been  elected  Professor  of  Pastoral  Theology,  and  J.  A.  Alexander,  Ad- 
junct-Professor of  Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature." 

Professor  James  Alexander  was  now  busy  upon  Tully  and 
the  Antonines,  and  amusing  himself  with  the  ranz  des  vaches. 
The  father  went  on  an  early  day  in  June  to  lay  the  corner- 
stone of  a  new  Presbyterian  Church  in  Freehold.  Dr.  Archi- 
bald Alexander  was  now  one  of  the  busiest  of  men,  and  yet 


.Et.26.]  PROFESSORSHIP    DECLINED.  361 

though  he  almost  never  left  his  study,  he  lavished  many  hours 
dai'y  on  the  students  who  repaired  to  him  for  counsel.  His 
biographer  thinks  he  gave  up  half  his  time  to  them.  They 
woul  1  run  in  at  all  hours.  The  keen  sidelong:  e;lance  of  that 
bright  eye  seemed  to  read  them  through  and  through ;  but  the 
quick  ear  and  apprehension  of  the  gi-eat  practical  philosopher 
seized  at  once  the  point  of  difficulty  or  embarrassment,  and 
his  wisdom  and  benevolence  seldom  failed  to  relieve  the 
student's  doubts  or  to  inform  his  ignorance. 

In  ihe  month  of  May,  Mr.  Alexander,  as  we  have  seen, 
was  elected  by  the  General  Assembly,  Adjunct  Professor  of 
Oriental  and  Biblical  Literature  in  the  Theological  Seminary. 
This  compliment  he  modestly  and  firmly  declined.  The  Board 
of  Directors  sat  in  September.  This  was  his  opportunity,  and 
he  availed  himself  of  it  to  convey  to  them  his  sense  of  the 
honour  that  had  been  conferred  upon  him,  and  of  his  inflexible 
opposition  to  the  proposed  change.  Here  is  his  letter  to  the 
President  of  the  Board  : 

"  I  beg  leave  to  communicate  through  you,  to  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors, my  determination  to  decline  the  appointment  with  which  I  wag 
honoured  by  the  last  General  Assembly.  Should  the  Board  desire  a 
continuance  of  my  services,  I  am  entirely  willing  to  retain  my  present 
station  as  an  Assistant  to  Professor  Hodge." 

This  not  proving  altogether  satisfactory  to  the  learned 
gentlemen  of  the  Board,  they  sent  a  committee  to  wait  on 
him.     But  here  are  his  own  words  : 

"  After  a  meeting  of  the  Directors,  I  was  visited  by  a  committee  of 
the  Board.  After  conver.-ing  with  them,  I  persisted  in  declining  to 
accept  the  appointment  of  Professor,  but  consented  to  the  postpone- 
ment of  the  whole  affair,  if  the  Board  thought  fit,  till  the  next  meetr 
ing;  which  was  done  accordingly." 

There  is  not  one  word  on  his  side  of  this  correspondence, 

of  pretended  unfitness  for  a  post   for  which   he   must  have 

known  that  he  was  probably  better  qualified  on  the  score  of 

preparation  than  any  other  man   in  the  church.     We  havo 

16 


362  DEAN    SWIFT.  [1835. 

here  a  fine  instance  of  real  humility  as  distinguished  from  its 
counterfeit. 

After  a  lapse  of  six  years  he  now  again  became  a  teacher 
at  Edgehill,  which  was  at  this  time  under  the  direction  of  Mr. 
E.  C.  Wines.  This  filled  his  hands  to  superfluity;  since  he  was 
called  upon  to  teach  sixteen  hours  a  week,  besides  his  ordinary 
Seminary  duties.  He  had  also  given  lessons  during  the  year 
to  several  youthful  pupils,  and  regularly  instructed  a  private 
class  in  Arabic.  During  the  same  time  also  amidst  the  multi- 
farious labours  of  his  study,  he  had  read  through  the  Old 
Testament  once,  and  the  New  Testament  twice,  critically.  He 
was  becoming  a  master  of  new  languages.  He  was  daily  fired 
with  new  zeal  in  the  old  ones.  Zest,  playfulness,  chameleon 
volatility,  directness,  tremendous  energy,  unwearied  diligence, 
unconquerable  perseverance,  absolute  triumph  over  difficulties, 
marked  him  in  all  he  attempted. 

The  allusion  in  the  following  extract  to  the  Dean  of  St. 
Patrick's  cannot  be  passed  over  without  calling  the  attention 
of  the  reader  to  it  specially. 

"To  night  I  finished  the  first  volume  of  Dean  Swift's  correspond- 
ence, which  has  given  me  much  amusement,  for  with  all  its  folly  and 
hearflessness,  there  is  a  humour  so  unique,  and  a  common  sense  so  ex- 
quisite, that  I  feel  even  the  nonsense  to  he  the  nonsense  of  a  mas- 
ter. Besides,  I  am  passionately  fond  of  all  familiar  correspondence  ; 
the  more  minute  the  better;  and  in  this  case,  the  society  in  which  the 
writer  lived,  gives  the  letters  even  a  historical  interest.  After  Swift 
changed  his  politics,  he  abused  Addison  often,  but  confesses  now  and 
then  that  he  is  the  most  agreeable  man  of  his  acquaintance." 

Mr.  Alexander  had  a  vast  liking  and  respect  himself,  for 
his  namesake  Joseph  Addison.  Swift,  though,  was  in  some  re- 
spects the  more  congenial  spirit.  He  loved  these  casual  ram- 
bles among  the  hedge-rows  of  literature.  The  amount  of  his 
general  reading  alone  was  enormous.  He  is  sharp  upon 
Washington  Irving.     It  is  best  to  give  his  own  words : 

"Finished   the  Crayon   Miscellany,  No.  2,   which  contains  a  few 


/Et.26.]  MR.    JAMES   ALEXANDER.  363 

good  sentences  and  thoughts,  but  on  tho  whole  is  a  paltry  catch-penny. 
The  style  lacks  the  merit  which  once  gained  Irving  celebrity,  though 
it  exhibits  a  constant  striving  after  beautiful  expression.  The  senti- 
mental feeling  about  Byron  is  contemptible;  the  style  in  which  it  is 
clothed  is  mawkish  and  nerveless  ;  and  the  whole  book  is  unworthy  of 
the  Sketch  Book  and  even  of  Bracebrhlge  Hall,  and  of  course  vastly 
lower  than  Knickerbocker." 

It  was  Mr.  Alexander's  opinion  that  the  first  books  both  of 
Irving  and  Dickens  were  much  their  best ;  and  in  this  opinion 
I  think  that  a  majority  of  sensible  people  concur. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  Mr.  James  Alexander  went  to 
Saratoga  in  search  of  health  and  recreation ;  and  remained 
there,  or  in  the  vicinity,  the  greater  part  of  the  summer,  drink- 
ing the  waters  and  talking  with  such  men  as  Mr.  Picrpont  tho 
poet,  Dr.  Wayland,  and  Dr.  McClelland,  and  feasting  his  ears 
with  German  and  Italian  music.  He  returned  much  ravigora- 
ted.  Soon  after,  on  the  last  day  of  August,  he  was  escorted 
one  evening  to  see  Chancellor  Kent ;  of  whom  he  writes  to 
Mr.  Hall,  "  spent  a  grand  evening  with  Chancellor  Kent,"  and 
whom  he  describes  elsewhere,  as  "robust,  loquacious,  boyish, 
comical,  and  oddly  snappish  and  pleasing.  His  manner  is  so 
singular  as  to  baffle  description."  He  ever  continued  to  regard 
the  Chancellor  as  one  of  the  greatest  and  best  of  Americans. 

The  scene  now  changes  again  to  Princeton.  The  Hebrew 
professor  was  meanwhile  making  progress  in  his  studies  and 
with  his  classes. 

It  appears  that  he  kept  up  his  communications  with  Ger- 
many, and  now  and  then  refreshed  himself  in  the  old  paths  of 
Oriental  romance  and  poetry.  His  habits  were  healthful  and 
regular,  with  the  exception  that  his  labours  seemed  excessive, 
and  that  he  gave  himself  no  sufficient  bodily  recreation. 

"August  13. — I  rose  early  and  walked;  studied  and  wrote  notes 
on  the  fifteenth  Psalm.  Read  the  fortieth  Psalm  with  the  class.  Dr. 
Hodge  received  a  letter  from  James  Clark  in  Boston,  enclosing  a  note  in 
German  to  me  from  Biersthal,  my  old  acquaintance  and  Rabbinical 
instructor.  He  promises  to  send  me  his  Manual  Hebrew  Lexicon 
which  he  began  while  I  was  there,  and  wants  a  situation  in  America. 


364  DR.    ARCHIBALD    ALEXANDER.  [1835. 

I  read  a  capital  review  of  Sir  John  Sinclair  on  paper  currency,  in  the 
London  Quarterly  for  1811." 

"  September  7. — Read  Psalms  xvi,  xci,  with  my  class.  Added  a 
codicil  to  my  article  on  Prelacy.  Resumed  the  perusal  of  the  Thou- 
sand and  One  Nights  in  Arabic,  which  I  suspended  on  the  13th  of  Sep- 
tember last  year.  I  am  also  rapidly  revising  Jaubert's  Turkish  Gram, 
mar,  which  I  studied  on  my  voyage  to  Europe,  so  that  I  am  likely  to 
become  again  quite  Oriental." 

Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  on  a  Sunday  in  September 
preached  in  the  Chapel  a  powerful  extemporaneous  discourse 
from  the  text  "Consider  your  ways."  It  was  very  awakening 
and  penetrated  the  heart  and  conscience  of  many.  On  such 
occasions  there  was  often  a  return  of  Virginia  warmth ;  and 
pictures  addressed  to  the  fancy  were  mingled  with  shrewd 
touches  of  human  nature  and  profound  and  moving  appeals  to 
the  springs  of  human  action.  There  were  times  when  Dr. 
Alexander  could  sway  the  passions  at  his  will. 

One  may  know  the  impression  that  would  be  produced  on 
an  audience  by  warm,  lively  appeals  from  such  a  man  to  the  im- 
agination and  feelings;  especially  when  we  take  into  view  the 
faultless  taste  of  the  style,  and  the  indescribable  accompani- 
ments of  voice  and  manner.  There  are  people  now  living  in 
Virginia  who  remember  him  perfectly  as  he  appeared  at 
the  time  that  he  preached  at  Briery,  and  who  confirm  all  that 
has  been  said  as  to  the  exceeding  sweetness  and  pathos  of 
his  intonations,  and  the  imimitable  naturalness,  freedom,  and 
cordiality  of  his  delivery.  There  are  some,  indeed,  whose  re- 
collections go  back  to  a  much  earlier  period.  Most  of  those, 
however,  who  knew  him  in  those  days  have  passed  away. 

There  is  little  in  his  printed  sermons  to  put  one  in  mind  of 
the  familiar  and  often  unpremeditated  but  sparkling  outpour- 
ings of  his  youth  ;  they  are  elegant  and  not  devoid  of  unction, 
but  gi-ave  and  severe,  and  almost  wholly  bare  of  ornament.  His 
style  became  more  and  more  Doric  in  its  simplicity,  as  he  grew 
older  and  advanced  in  experience.  His  friend  Dr.  Speece  spor- 
tively compared  his  efforts  in  his  earlier  days  to  the  gambols 


Mr.  26.]  HIS    PREACHING.  365 

of  a  mettlesome  colt  in  a  broad  pasture.  It  was  not  until  Dr. 
Alexander's  removal  to  Princeton  that  his  manner  underwent 
a  marked  and  decided  change.  The  characteristic  to  which  I 
refer,  was  an  extraordinary  power  of  bringing  the  scene  he 
was  depicting  before  the  very  eye  of  his  audience.  He  held  in 
his  hands  the  wand  of  a  magician.  He  was  undoubtedly  one 
of  the  most  natural  and  graphic  speakers  in  America.  He 
saw  the  thing  himself,  and  made  others  see  it.  There  was 
nothing  theatrical  about  this  ;  or  approaching  in  the  remotest 
degree  to  such  a  quality.  He  held  his  audience  under  precisely 
the  same  kind  of  spell  that  a  good  story-teller,  who  is  interested 
in  his  subject  and  who  draws  inspiration  from  the  open  mouths 
and  sparkling  eyes  of  his  little  hearers,  can  throw  around 
children.  This  was  due  to  his  own  childlike  simplicity.  His 
expressions  were  as  nearly  colloquial  as  was  consistent  with  an 
almost  absolute  purity  and  projmety  of  diction,  and  a  singu- 
lar felicity  in  the  choice  of  words.  His  sentences,  too,  were 
neatly  rounded,  as  if  by  a  sort  of  happy  chance  or  careless  and 
unconscious  grace,  and  were  often  very  harmonious.  But  be- 
fore one  could  well  detect  anything  like  cadence  or  rhythm,  the 
tune  would  change,  or  rather  would  be  broken  up,  just  as  in  fire- 
side talk.  His  tones  even  in  his  most  spirited  moments  were 
those  of  animated  conversation. 

I  am  again  indebted  for  important  facts  to  Dr.  Jones  of 
Bridgeton.  For  the  greater  part  of  Mr.  Jones's  term  of 
study  in  the  Theological  Seminary  Mr.  Alexander  was  Ad- 
junct-Professor of  Ancient  Languages  in  the  College  of  New 
Jersey.  The  new  Professor  was  appointed  during  Mr.  Jones's 
last  year;  and  the  pupil  remembered  to  have  heard  at  the  time 
of  his  election  that  one  distinguished  minister  had  expressed 
the  opinion,  that  "  only  one  Addison  Alexander  was  born  in  a 
century ;  "  while  the  other  felt  sure  that  but  one  such  man 
was  allotted  to  a  generation. 

"  One  of  these  persons  was  the  venerable  Aslibel  Green,  formerly 
President   of  Princeton   College;  than  whom  few  were  better  quali 
fied  to  pronounce  judgment  on  a  scholar.     It  is  not  too  much  to  saj 


366  PRIVATE    CLASSES.  [1835. 

that  those  most  competent  to  judge  would  be  the  last  to  pronounce  such 
a  eulogy  extravagant." 

All  that  this  gentleman  had  ever  heard  of  Mr.  Alexander  be- 
fore he  came  under  his  instructions,  was  far  more  than  realized 
by  what  he  saw  and  learnt  of  him  while  his  pupil.  In  addi- 
tion to  his  ordinary  and  regular  instructions  in  the  Seminary,  he 
proposed  to  form  a  volunteer  class,  to  meet  on  Saturday  after- 
noon "  our  only  holiday"  and  to  study  the  Book  of  Leviti- 
cus, in  a  more  private  and  familiar  way.  Four  of  the  young 
men  gladly  accepted  his  invitation,  by  meeting  him  for  an 
hour  each  week ;  and  the  writer  of  the  sketches  which  I  am 
now  using  is  persuaded  that  only  those  who  then  and  there 
listened  to  these  informal  exercitations  can  form  an  idea  of 
the  interest  with  which  the  young  professor  contrived  to  invest 
his  exposition  of  a  book  which  under  a  less  fascinating  treat- 
ment might  have  seemed  dry.     He  goes  on  as  follows  : 

"  During  one  session  of  my  Seminary  life,  it  was  my  rare  privilege 
to  reside  under  the  same  roof  *  with  Professor  Alexander  ;  both  of  us 
occupying  lodgings  in  a  house  near  the  Seminary." 

Here  it  was  that  he  became  better  acquainted  with  the 
man  than  he  had,  or  otherwise  could  have  been. 

"  His  writings  and  his  instructions  in  the  recitation-room  had  ex- 
cited my  wonder  and  admiration  at  the  vastness  of  his  resources  and 
his  skilful  management  of  them.  His  powers  of  mind,  his  acquisitions 
and  the  facility  with  which  he  gained  all  kinds  of  knowledge  seemed 
to  lift  him  above  the  level  of  mere  mortals,  and  to  place  between  him 
and  me  an  impassable  gulf.  Brought  nearer  to  him  by  residence  in  the 
Eame  house,  his  mind  became  to  me  more  a  '  phenomenon  '  than  before. 
There  seemed  to  be  no  difference  in  his  case  between  work  and  play. 
Study  to  other  men  is  a  toil;  attended  or  followed  by  fatigue.  In  his 
case  there  seemed  to  be  no  greater  tension  of  mind  while  engaged  in 
his  profoundest  investigations  than  when  he  was  reading  for  entertain- 
ment. All  forms  of  mental  employment  seemed  equally  easy  to  him. 
I  never  heard  him  complain  of  weariness ;  and  I  never  saw  him  when 

*  At  Mrs.  Henderion's,  on  the  Trenton  Turnpike,  just  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
north  of  Judge  Field's. 


Mr.  26.]  PERSONAL    TRAITS.  367 

he  seemed  weary.  What  would  tax  any  other  mind  I  ever  knew 
seemed  mero  entertainment  to  him.  The  old  proverb,  '  no  man  is 
great  to  his  own  valet,'  was  not  realized  in  the  case  of  Addison  Alex- 
ander." 

The  writer's  private  intercourse  with  him  at  this  time,  and 
at  a  subsequent  period,  when  his  duties  called  him  at  least 
once  a  year  to  Princeton,  enhanced  his  estimate  of 

"His  moral  excellence  and  the  prodigious  intellectual  powers  of  the 
man.  The  nearer  I  approached  and  the  more  closely  I  studied  him, 
the  more  I  saw  to  admire,  and  the  more  astonishing  seemed  his  capaci- 
ty. The  glance  of  his  mind  was  alike  comprehensive,  keen,  and  minute. 
The  decisions  of  his  judgment  were  rapid,  beyond  those  of  any  man 
with  whom  I  ever  conversed;  and  they  were  as  sound  as  they  were 
rapid." 

Among  the  personal  traits  which  impressed  themselves 
upon  his  notice,  in  private  intercourse,  were  "transparent  hon- 
esty and  truthfulness,  perfect  simplicity"  of  character,  and  the 
rarest  union  of  simplicity  and  commanding  dignity."  A  more 
thoroughly  honest  man  he  never  knew ;  and  he  questioned 
whether  such  ever  lived. 

"I  never  knew  him  to  utter,  as  his  own  sentiment,  what  I  did  not 
believe  to  be  the  actual  exponent  of  his  views.  I  never  knew  him  to 
equivocate  or  prevaricate,  or  practise  deceit  in  any  form  or  shape." 

He  never  knew  a  man  who  had  a  greater  repugnance  to 
anything  approaching  pompous  pretension,  or  parade. 

"  In  his  manners  and  conversation,  in  his  lecture-room  and  in  tho 
pulpit,  in  his  great  critical  wrorks  and  in  his  fugitive  writings,  there  was 
an  extraordinary  absence  of  everything  like  an  attempt  to  impress  one 
with  an  idea  of  his  greatness.  You  could  not  but  feel  it;  but  it  was 
not  because  he  made  an  effort  to  convince  you  of  it.  You  felt  his 
greatness  just  as  you  feel  the  greatness  of  a  lofty  mountain  or  a  Gothic 
cathedral." 

After  speaking  of  his  conscientious  regard  for  truth  and 
charity,  Dr.  Jones  continues  : 


368  BEARING    TOWARDS    HIS    CLASS.  [1835. 

"This  same  tenderness  of  conscience  and  of  feeling  was  often 
evinced  in  a  way  which  elicited  the  admiration  of  his  pupils,  and 
greatly  heightened  their  estimate  of  his  piety.  Like  all  other  theolo- 
gical teachers,  he  was  occasionally  brought  into  contact  with  students 
who  annoyed  him  by  their  indolence,  heedlessness,  mental  sluggish- 
ness, or  self-conceit ;  and  such  he  would  sometimes  rasp  with  no  little 
severity.  "Whenever  this  occurred,  his  students  noticed  that  for  some 
time  after,  his  prayers  before  his  class  were  marked  by  unusual  hu- 
mility of  tone  and  tenderness  of  spirit;  as  if  the  recollection  even  of  a 
merited  castigation  had  cost  him  profound  regret." 

So  habitual  was  this  exhibition  of  a  tender  spirit  under 
such  circumstances,  that  students  on  their  return  to  the  class 
after  a  temporary  absence  from  the  recitation-room,  frequently- 
suspected  that  some  one  had  been  recently  visited  with  one  of 
these  telling  rebukes,  from  the  peculiarly  subdued  and  reveren- 
tial tone  of  the  Professor's  opening  exercise. 

A  pupil  of  some  years'  later  date,*  in  referring  to  Mr.  Alex- 
ander's bearing  towards  his  classes,  remarks  that  the  only  fault 
he  could  ever  see  in  him  as  a  teacher,  was  his  impatience  of 
dulness. 

"lie  seemed  to  entertain  towards  the  very  dull  or  incorrigibly 
stupid  youths,  who  are  found  in  almost  every  academical  class,  a  feel- 
ing akin  to  resentment  or  indignation  ;  and  he  frequently  showed  them 
no  mercy.  There  are,  I  believe,  several  traditions  in  the  Seminary  of 
his  unsparing  severity  to  some  very  piou^,  good  brethren,  or  who  were 
esteemed  such,  which  (so  run  these  traditions)  aroused  the  feeling  of 
the  class  against  him." 


»6» 


There  were  traditions  of  this  sort  afloat  when  this  writer 
was  in  the  Seminary. 

"I  could  not  account  for  it  until  I  had  the  opportunity  of  observing 
him  in  the  class  myself.  I  then  ascertained,  or  fancied  that  he  had  no 
conception  of  the  slowness  and  dulness  of  some  minds.  He  thought 
therefore  that  the  only  hypothesis  by  which  he  could  account  for  the 
manifest  failure  of  some  of  his  pnpils  to  make  any  adequate  progress, 
was  that  they  were  idle  and  neglectful  of  their  duties.     In  his  view, 

*  Dr.  Rice,  of  Mobile.    • 


^Et.26.]  SHA11P   CENSURE.  369 

for  a  Seminary  student,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  to  neglect  the 
advantages  furnished  him  hy  the  church,  to  waste  his  time  in  i. lienors 
or  frivolity,  was  a  great  sin  and  shame.  In  his  eyes  it  was  hateful  hy- 
pocrisy ;  and  he  had  the  most  profound  scorn  for  everything  like  sham 
and  pretence  in  religion." 

It  is  true,  too,  that  in  so  large  a  school  as  Princeton  was 
then,  there  are  always  some  who  deserve  sharp  censure  on 
the  score  of  laziness: 

"A  sort  of  literary  antinomians,  concerning  whom  the  Professor 
felt  in  a  measure  as  the  apostle  Paul  did  concerning  those  who  would 
turn  the  grace  of  God  into  lasciviousness,  'their  damnation  is  just;' 
and  he  did  condemn  them  without  much  compunction.  I  think  that 
he  was  naturally  of  quick  temper,*  but  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  was 
somewhat  soured  and  rendered  a  little  morbid  by  his  ear.ier  experiences 
as  a  teacher  in  the  Seminary. 

"  lie  learned  afterwards  to  make  more  allowance  for  want  of  capacity, 
and  to  feel  more  Christian  charity  towards  real  offenders,  while  he  still 
condemned  their  conduct.  After  I  entered  the  Seminary,  I  saw  but 
little  of  the  petulance,  anger,  and  undue  severity,  for  which  he  had  a 
reputation  among  former  classes.  It  must  be  said,  however,  that  the 
students  who  made  fair  progress  in  his  department  knew  nothing  and 
could  remember  nothing  of  this  nature.  The  severity  of  his  reproof 
was  often  solely  in  the  tone  and  quality  of  the  voice." 

He  remembers  a  case  in  which  he  was  himself  the  sufferer : 

"  He  asked  me  why  a  certain  form  of  a  Hebrew  word  was  not  so 
and  so,  naming  the  normal  condition  of  the  word.  I  replied  with,  I 
believe,  a  somewhat  flippant  manner,  '  It  ought  to  be.'  His  answer 
came  instantly  flashing  back,  'No  it  oughtn't!'  and  I  felt  a  sort  of 
thrill  shoot  through  me  like  the  electric  shock."  He  could  not  tell,  at 
first,  what  cause;l  the  sensation,  but  soon  discovered  that  it  was  due  en- 
tirely to  the  tone  of  voice  in  which  the  few  syllables  of  reply  had  been 
uttered.*     "  It  made  me  cautious  ever  after  of  the  tone  in  which  I  an- 

*  This  is  doubtless  true ;  and  his  other  emotions  were  as  quick  and  energet- 
ic as  his  "  temper."      His    temper   was   certainly  at   times  bitter.     I  do   not 
imagine,  however,  that  his  temper  was  ever  habitually  or  even  for  a  length  of 
time  continuously  sour.     Dr.  Rice,  probably,  does  not  mean  this. 
16* 


370  CONVERSATION.  [1335. 

swered  his  questions.     He  then  went  on  very  pleasantly  to  say,  '  You 
mean  that  it  would  be  so,  but  for  such  and  such  circumstances.'  " 

"  I  have  in  the  course  of  my  life  met  with  three  teachers  of  pre 
eminent  ability  as  teachers,  and  he  was  the  foremost  of  them  all,  for 
pupils  of  intellect  above  the  average.  For  dull  boys  he  was  not  so 
good,  for  the  reasons  above  stated.  If  a  young  man  had  anything  in 
him,  and  was  disposed  to  make  use  of  his  advantages,  "Mr.  Alexander 
could  draw  it  out  better  than  any  teacher  I  ever  saw. 

"His  instructions  were  characterized  by  surpassing  clearness. 
There  was  no  mistaking  his  meaning  ;  and  there  was  no  mixing  of  sub- 
jects, no  confusion  of  thought." 

The  same  writer  also  refers  to  his  directness  and  brevity, 
and  to  the  happy  peculiarity  of  his  diction. 

Few  persons  of  scholarlike  habits  and  recluse  disposition 
have  bad  such  talents  for  common  talk,  or  more  carefully  con- 
cealed the  gift  from  the  vulgar.  In  allusion  to  Mr.  Alexan- 
der's social  qualities,  and  the  unaffected  charm  of  bis  manner 
when  be  was  at  leisure  and  among  bis  friends,  one  of  his 
warmest  admirers  f  writes,  that  be  never  monopolized  conver 
sation  as  Coleridge  did  ;  and  never  like  Johnson,  attempted  to 
bear  you  down  by  the  weight  of  bis  greatness,  J  or  the  force 
of  authority.  "  With  intimate  friends  be  would  take  bis 
proper  share  in  conversation  ;  and  in  this,  as  in  bis  writings, 
there  was  no  redundancy  of  words,  nor  irrelevancy  of  ideas." 
His  manner  was  that  of  perfect  ease  and  unstudied  simplicity; 
his  language  precise  and  elegant ;  and  all  his  utterances  were 
marked  by  point  and  condensation.  So  finished  was  bis  ordi- 
nary talk  that  so  far  as  accuracy  is  concerned,  it  might  bave 
been  committed  to  print  without  correction.  And  the  same 
may  be  said  of  his  oral  interrogations  in  the  recitation-room. 

*  It  has  been  strongly  impressed  upon  me  that  with  his  talent  and  love  for 
personation,  he  sometimes  may  bave  copied  after  the  Captain  of  the  Samson,  of 
whose  manner  of  scolding  the  sailors  without  being  angry  he  has  expressed  his 
warmest  approval. 

f  Dr.  Beach  Jones. 

\  And  the  writer  might  bave  added,  never,  as  Prescott  says  Macaulay  did, 
oppressed  you  with  the  ponderous  weight  of  his  matter.  He  was  always  easy 
and  colloquial. 


Mi.  26.]  OBSERVER   OF    MEN.  371 

"A  competent  judge  who  had  never  heard  of  Dr.  Alexander's 
fame,  would  have, pronounced  him  an  extraordinary  man  simply  from 
listening  to  his  questions  to  his  class.  As  to  all  the  minute  laws  and 
elegancies  of  language,  both  written  and  spoken,  he  had  no  superior. 
In  orthography,  ortlioepy,  and  syntax  he  was  a  model. 

"With  all  his  vast,  various,  and  even  curious  learning;  with  all 
his  addiction  to  study;  with  all  his  recluse  habits;  Mr.  Alexan- 
der was  one  of  the  wisest  practical  judges  of  men  and  affairs  whom 
I  have  ever  known.  He  rarely  erred  in  his  estimate  of  men,  and  was 
one  of  the  wisest  of  counsellors  on  almost  any  subject  on  which  he 
was  consulted.1' 

That  one  so  immersed  in  books  should  sometimes  be  ab- 
stracted when  moving  among  men,  or  that  lie  should  be  care- 
less or  oblivious  of  little  things,  would  have  excited  no  sur- 
prise, because  such  is  usually  the  case.  "  Yet  a  keener  obser- 
ver of  all  that  was  passing  in  the  busy  world  around  him,  it 
would  have  been  hard  if  not  impossible  to  find.  Names  and 
circumstances  and  peculiarities  of  manner  indelibly  impressed 
themselves  on  his  mind.  Little  incidents  were  as  accurately 
retained  as  great  events  and  fundamental  principles.  He  has 
reminded  me  of  things  I  had  said,  many  years  after  I  had 
utterly  forgotten  them." 

The  friend  to  whose  exact  recollections  I  owe  so  much  of 
the  materials  of  this  account,  winds  up  a  paragraph  by  saying, 
that 

"When  we  consider  the  versatility  of  his  powers  and  his  love  of 
change,  and  the  fact  that  he  rarely,  if  ever,  carried,  two  successive 
classes  through  precisely  the  same  routine  of  studies,  and  constructed 
scarcely  any  two  of  his  sermons  on  the  same  plan ;  it.  will  furnish 
another  proof  of  the  healthiness  of  his  mind  and  the  solidity  of  his 
piety,  that  he  should  never  have  adopted  theological  whimsies  nor 
darted  off  in  heretical  aberrations." 

This  is  admirably  said.  With  all  his  changes  he  ever  swuif 
back  again  like  the  agitated  needle  and  pointed  steadily  to 
the  pole  of  duty  and  right  inclination.  Like  Wordsworth's 
lark,  however  he  might  ruffle  his  plumage  and  beat  the  air  with 
his  wings,  it  was  only  that  he  might  soar  the  more  easily  into 


372  DE.    HALL.  [1835. 

the  bright  skies  ;  he  never  forgot  his  nest,  and  his  little  house- 
hold cares  upon  the  ground.  In  brief,  with  all  his  seeming 
and  real  vacillations,  with  all  his  inexplicable  flights  and 
descents,  he  always  remained 

"  True  to  the  kindred  points  of  heaven  and  home.1' 

There  is  little  of  positive  value  to  be  gathered  from  this  part 
of  Mr.  Alexander's  private  correspondence.  He  seldom  wrote 
letters  except  on  matters  of  business,  and  these  were  commonly 
Aery  short.  He  corresponded,  however,  at  irregular  intervals 
with  a  few  intimate  friends.  The  only  one  to  whom  he  occasion- 
ally poured  out  all  the  feelings  of  his  soul  in  his  epistolary 
effusions,  was  his  brother  James.  There  were  certain  men 
nevertheless  to  whom  he  wrote  with  great  freedom  and  with 
great  satisfaction  to  himself  and  them.  Among  these  the  first 
place  is  due  to  Dr.  Hall  of  Philadelphia,  and  afterwards  Tren- 
ton, to  whom  he  continued  to  write  copiously.  His  neighbor- 
hood, his  position  at  one  of  the  great  centres  of  polite  informa- 
tion and  of  the  operations  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  his  in- 
telligent congeniality  of  feeling,  his  tried  friendship,  and  his 
incessant  communications  with  ths  professor's  elder  brother, 
made  this  intercourse  at  once  valuable  and  full  of  enjoyment. 
When  he  removed  from  Philadelphia  to  Trenton,  the  country 
scho'ar  could  not  resist  the  temptation  of  keeping  an  courant 
of  what  was  passing  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware,  and  found 
or  created  many  occasions  of  reminding  his  friend  of  his  own 
fixed  position  at  Princeton.  Mr.  Hall  possessed  one  great 
advantage  over  the  mass  of  Mr.  Alexander's  acquaintances,  he 
had  a  perfect  comprehension  and  an  exquisite  appreciation  of 
his  humour.  This  led  to  the  most  comical  imaginary  strife  or 
mock-warfare  between  them.  This  will  explain  the  fact  that 
half  that  is  contained  in  these  letters  must  be  regarded  as  pure 
irony.  This  statement  is  necessary  to  meet  the  case  of  those 
who  have  a  sort  of  colour-blindness  in  this  matter.  Mr.  Alex- 
ander was  really  modest  and  humble,  yet  it  will  be  perceived 
that  he  often  writes  to  Mr.   Hall  in  a  tone   which  if  serious 


Mr.  26.]  CORRESPONDENCE.  373 

would  be  one  of  supercilious  condescension,  or  arrogant  pre- 
sumption.    Of  course  all  this  was  the  merest  fun,  and  was  so 
taken  by  his  correspondent.     Sometimes  the  letters  are  refined 
burlesques.     They  are  frequently  couched  in  the  language  of 
diplomacy.     They  are  often  signed  with  a  succession  of  up- 
right hair-strokes  crossed  with  flourishes  of  the  pen  in  the 
form  of  an  hour-glass.     Sometimes  they  are  from  a  bishop,  in 
due  pomp  of  ritualistic  precision,  and  breathe  the  most  sacer- 
dotal or  even  Prelatical  spirit.     Sometimes  they  are  from  a 
very    testy    and   punctilious    "  star    preacher "    (a   character 
whom  Mr.  Alexander  abhorred  most  intensely)  who  is  solici- 
tous about  the  times  and  circumstances  of  his  personal  exhibi- 
tion, and  inquires  anxiously,  or   gives   directions,    about  the 
benches  in  the  aisles.     Some  of  the  letters  are  made  up  almost 
wholly  of  the  current  ministerial  slang  or  cant.     Often  the 
writer  is  half  in  earnest  in  what  he  says  in  a  strain  of  ironical 
affectation,  and  chooses  this  mode  of  conveying  real  feelings. 
Sometimes  he  writes  gravely  on  some  subject  requiring  or  in- 
viting grave  attention.     In  all  cases  he   shows  unlimited  con- 
fidence in  the  discernment  and  fidelity  of  his  Philadelphia 
agent,  caterer,  and  friend.     Not  a  few  of  the  letters  are  on 
questions  of  ecclesiastical  procedure,  the  General  Assembly 
and  the  New  School  con.roversy,   &c,  and   are  full   of  refer- 
ences to  the  names  and  characters  of  living  men.     They  are  also 
remarkably  and  intentionally  local  in  their  allusions,  and  are 
some  of  them  by  this  time  quite  unintelligible.  Now  and  then 
I  have  fallen  in  with  one  which  could  be  understood  only   by 
the  man  who  wrote  it,  or  possibly  also  the  man  to  whom  it  was 
written.     Restricted  as  the  field  of  selection  is  thus  made  it 
yet  presents  a  number  of  letters  which  however  uninteresting 
they  may   seem  to   the  superficial   reader,  will  undoubtedly 
afford  a  vantage  ground  to  those  who  wish  to  see  the  so\il  of 
the  writer  in  its  undress  garb,  and  from  a  multitude  of  minute 
disclosures  of  character  and  feeling,  to  ascertain  for  themselves 
what  manner   of  man  he  really  was.     These  letters  will  be  in- 
troduced from  time  to  time  according  to  their  dates. 

Princeton  was  at  this  time  suffering  greatly  from  the  rava- 


374  ARABIC    LETTER.  ri835. 

ges  of  a  disease  resembling  what  is  now  known  as  the  typhoid 
or  enteric  fever.  Many  deaths  occurred  sometimes  in  one 
family.  Dr.  Howell,  the  friend  and  physician  of  the  Alexan- 
ders, whose  family  had  been  scourged  and  reduced  in  numbers 
by  the  fever,  died  himself  on  the  second  of  November.  Early 
in  December  the  great  fire  was  raging  in  New  York,  and  the 
reflection  in  the  heavens  was  distinctly  seen  at  Princeton,  and 
mistaken  for  an  aurora.  We  have  but  few  glimpses  of  Mr. 
Alexander  in  the  midst  of  these  occurrences,  but  such  as  they 
are  they  indicate  the  fervour  and  the  brave  energy  with 
which  he  was  holding  on  his  way  as  a  student. 

Monday  the  21st,  like  several  of  its  predecessors,  was  a 
bad  day  ;  mizzling  and  slippery.  During  the  whole  of  this 
dull  day  Mr.  Alexander  was  closeted  with  Mr.  John  Porter 
Brown,  U.  S.  Consul  at  Constantinople,  decyphering  under 
his  eye  an  Arabic  letter  which  was  sent  to  Mr.  Brown  by  the 
U.  S.  government  as  a  test  of  his  knowledge  of  the  language. 
Mr.  Brown  was  applying  for  the  situation  of  interpreter  at  the 
Porte.  The  letter  was  found  to  relate  to  certain  missionaries 
at  Beirut.*  Mr.  Brown  also  gave  Mr.  Alexander  a  Ferin- 
da,  such  as  are  used  by  the  Hadjis.  It  was  very  beautiful, 
writes  his  brother  James. 

On  Lord's  day,  the  27th,  Dr.  A.  Alexander  preached 
another  remarkable  sermon  in  the  Seminary  chapel.  It  was 
on  Regeneration,  and  struck  his  eldest  son  as  being  as  great  an 
effort  as  he  ever  heard  from  him.  It  was  astonishing  how  he 
would  sometimes  flame  up  and  electrify  the  audiences  that 
had  grown  accustomed  to  his  colder  and  more  didactic  ser- 
rnons.  He  certainly  had  the  faculty  of  thinking  and  compos- 
ing while  on  his  feet,  at  times  looking  as  if  lie  were  forgetful 

*  The  prospective  Consul  had  hunted  all  over  the  United  States  for  some  one 
to  make  out  the  MS.  Among  these  he  went  to  Peter  S.  Duponceau,  Presi- 
dent of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  who  asked  if  he  had  seen  Professor 
Addison  Alexander,  of  Princeton  ?  On  his  saying  he  had  not,  Professor  D.  said  he 
Lad  better  proceed  thither  at  once.  My  impression  is  that  several  other 
scholars  had  been  baffled  by  that  manuscript.  They  found  out  between  them 
that  it  was  written  in  the  Morocco  dialect. 


Mt.m.1  PRAYERS.  315 

of  the  presence  of  hearers,  in  a  degree  that  has  not  often  been 
equalled. 

One  thing  in  the  pulpit  ministrations  of  Mr.  Alexander 
which  specially  arrested  the  notice  of  devout  arid  reflective 
minds  was  his  prayers.  In  these,  as  in  his  sermons,  he  spoke 
as  at  the  time  he  felt.  At  times  there  was  much  more  of  fer- 
vour and  unction  than  at  others.  But  never  were  his  prayers 
eloquent  addresses  to  his  audiences. 

His  reverence  for  the  great  Hearer  of  Prayer  was  profound 
and  self-abasing.  He  seemed  to  forget  everything  but  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Divine  Majesty.  If  he  had  a  fault  in  this  exercise 
it  was  the  condensation  of  too  much  in  a  brief  compass.  He 
poured  forth  his  adoration,  confession,  supplication,  and 
thanksgiving,  with  such  rapidity  that  only  by  the  closest  at- 
tention could  his  fellow-worshippers  accompany  him.  His 
prayers  might  sometimes  be  styled  grand  ;  but  grand  not  be- 
cause he  sought  to  make  a  grand  prayer,  but  because  the 
themes  were  so  grand,  and  because  they  were  so  simple,  so 
free  from  everything  like  parade.  It  would  not  have  been 
strange  if  a  man  of  Mr.  Alexander's  scholastic  habits  had 
lacked  simplicity  and  unction  in  prayer.  That  he  was  charac- 
terized by  both  of  these  excellences,  was  to  his  friend  one 
evidence  of  the  reality  and  depth  of  his  piety.  Like  his  ven- 
erable father,  Dr.  Addison  Alexander  was  in  conversation 
very  reticent  as  to  his  own  religious  experience.  But  when  he 
came  to  prostrate  his  soul  before  God,  in  public  devotion,  his 
piety  unconsciously  disclosed  itself.  "  I  remember  attending  a 
meeting  of  great  interest,  at  which  several  foreign  ministers 
addressed  the  Synod  of  New  Jersey ;  and  where  Mr.  A.  was 
called  upon  to  lead  in  prayer. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  services  one  of  the  most  spiritually- 
minded  members  of  the  body  remarked  to  me  that  the  prayer 
of  Dr.  Alexander  had  been  to  him  by  far  the  most  impressive 
and  profitable  part  of  the  evening's  services ;  and  in  this 
opinion  my  own  judgment  fully  acquiesced." 

Mr.  Alexander  was  not  usually  in  the  habit  of  writing  out 
his  prayers ;  but  I  find  a  little  volume  for  this  year  which  con- 


376  A    SPECIMEN.  [--835. 

tains  some  specimens  of  his  private  devotions,  and  some  litur- 
gical  forms  which  were  used  at  the  opening  of  his  lectures  and 
recitations  in  the  Seminary.  They  are  not  at  all  like  the  peti- 
tions I  have  heard  him  offer  extemporaneously,  which  were 
more  abundant,  particular  and  colloquial.  Subjoined  is  a 
single  specimen: 

"  Jan.  18,  1835. — Matt.  xxv.  Lord,  may  I  be  ready  when  Thou  com- 
est!  May  my  lamp  be  burning!  O,  give  me  a  watchful  spirit  aDd  save 
me,  O  save  me,  from  forgetfulness  and  sloth  ! 

"Teach  me,  O  Saviour,  how  to  estimate  my  privileges  ;  help  me  to 
resolve  that  every  moment  shall  be  spent  for  Thee  !  I  renounce  vain 
amusements,  idle  talking,  slothful  ease,  useless  reading  and  all  mere 
literary,  intellectual  pleasures.  If  life  is  a  span,  how  can  I  find  time 
for  mere  diversion  ?  I  forego  them  all,  not  grudgingly,  but  with  a  wil- 
ling heart.  Thou,  who  hast  made  me  willing,  accept  and  bless  the 
sacrifice  !  O,  for  the  art  of  redee-ning  time !  Wilt  Thou  not  teach  me, 
O  my  God  ?  I  ask  of  Thee,  for  Christ's  sake,  not  to  let  me  waste  a 
moment  hereafter  !  May  I  be  burdened  with  the  weight  of  my  re- 
sponsibility !  May  I  feel,  more  and  more,  what  work  I  have  to  do,  as 
well  as  undo !  The  habits  of  five  and  twenty  years  are  to  be 
broken,  and  new  ones  to  be  formed.  Mercy  and  help,  O,  Lord,  my 
Sovereign  Lord !  Thou  who  lovest  little  children,  make  me  a  little 
child !  Make  me  humble,  simple-hearted,  tender,  guileless  and  confi- 
ding! Kill  my  selfish  pride !  Shiver  my  hard  heart !  Break  my  stub- 
born spirit!  Make  me  love  my  kind  by  making  me  to  love  Thee!  O  sof- 
ten me,  my  Saviour,  by  showing  me  Thy  own  tender,  bleeding,  melt- 
ing heart !  Purge  envy  from  my  heart  by  causing  me  to  live  and 
work  for  Thee  !  O,  that  this  foul  fiend  were  wholly  dispossessed!  I 
bless  Thee  for  trials — may  they  do  me  good!  Compel  me  to  remem- 
ber that  I  am  not  my  own !  Save  me  from  being  the  object  of  envy 
or  ill-will.  Save  me  from  the  wickedness  of  trying  to  excite  it ! 
Lord,  I  would  give  the  world  for  true  humility.  O,  make  me — make 
me  humble! " 

One  of  the  prominent  traits  of  his  disposition  in  after-life, 
was  rare  freedom  from  the  canker  of  jealousy  or  envy,  and  a 
very  low  opinion  of  his  own  powers  and  influence.  This,  in- 
deed, had  always  been  the  case,  as  was  best  known  to  those 


jEt.26.]  RESOLUTIONS.  377 

of  his  immediate  family ;  but  from  this  time  onward  the  trait 
became  more  marked  and  fixed. 

The  following  resolutions  are  appended  to  the  preceding 
prayer.     They  relate  to  the  practical  guidance  of  his  life. 


"1.  I  will  try  to  perform  every  act  of  my  life  with  conscious  re- 
gard to  religious  motives.  I  will  eat,  drink,  talk,  study,  teach,  write 
suffer,  not  only  as  a  Christian,  but  with  Christian  affections,  with  the 
love  of  Christ  in  my  heart. 

"2.  I  will  try  to  live  for  a  death  bed,  and  for  eternal  life.  I  will 
try  to  remember  what  it  is  I  am  living  for,  and  to  form  the  habit 
of  remembering  it  always — not  at  certain  seasons  only. 

"  3.  I  will  try  to  be  tender-hearted  and  to  love  my  fellow-creatures. 
I  will  deny  myself,  in  order  to  cherish  the  affections.  I  will  try  to 
show  that  I  am  no  misanthrope. 

"4.  I  will  try  to  maintain  an  humble  spirit;  I  will  try  to  live  as 
though  it  matters  not  whether  I  be  known  or  unknown — honoured  or 
despised.  I  will  try  to  rejoice  in  the  eminence  of  others.  It  is 
hard,  but  I  will  try  it  in  the  strength  of  my  Eedeemer.  But,  O  my 
Lord,  Thou  knowest  I  may  try  forever,  yet  in  vain,  without  Thy 
grace ! 

"  5.  I  will  try  to  hate  sin.  I  will  think  and  think  about  my  Saviour's 
sufferings,  till  my  heart  is  broken.  I  shall  fail  a  hundred  and  a  hun- 
dred times ;  but  I  will  still  persist  till  my  proud  heart  yields,  and  I 
become  a  little  child.     O,  that  my  head  were  waters!  " 

"  Feb.  2G. — Hear  me  when  I  call,  0  God  of  my  righteousness !  Thou 
hast  enlarged  me  when  I  was  in  distress ;  have  mercy  upon  me  and 
hear  my  prayer.  Eebuke  me  not  in  thine  anger,  neither  chasten  me 
in  Thy  hot  displeasure.  Lighten  my  eyes  lest  I  sleep  the  sleep  of  death. 
Bemember  not  the  sins  of  my  youth,  nor  my  transgressions.  Accord- 
ing to  Thy  mercy  remember  Thou  me,  for  Thy  goodness'  sake.  OLord 
pardon  mine  iniquity,  for  it  is  great!  Turn  Thou  unto  me,  and  have 
mercy  upon  me;  for  I  am  desolate  and  afflicted.  The  troubles  of  my 
heart  are  enlarged.  O  bring  Thou  me  out  of  my  distresses !  Look  upon 
mine  affliction  and  my  pain,  and  forgive  me  all  my  sins.  Mine  eyes 
are  ever  toward  the  Lord,  for  ne  shall  pluck  my  feet  out  of  the  net. 
O  keep  my  soul  and  deliver  me  ;  let  me  not  be  ashamed,  for  I  put  my 
trust  in  Thee  !  Lord,  I  believe,  help  Thou  my  unbelief!  Let  the  blood 
of  Christ  purge   my  conscience  from  dead  works,  to  serve  the  living 


378  ESTIMATE    OF    HIS    PRAYERS.  T1S35. 

God.  Let  me  have  grace  whereby  I  may  serve  God  acceptably!  O, 
Jesus  Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day  and  forever,  by  Thee  let  me 
offer  this  sacrifice  of  praise  to  God:  and  0,  Thou  God  of  peace,  who 
didst  bring  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  that  great  Shepherd  of 
the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make  me 
perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  Thy  will ;  work  in  me  that  which  is 
well  pleasing  in  Thy  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory  for- 
ever and  ever !     Amen." 

The  lamented  Dr.  Edward  Yeoruans,  of  Orange,  N".  J.,  has 
contributed  the  following  sentences  on  this  subject: 

"  The  structure  of  his  public  prayers  strikes  me  as  a  marked  exam- 
ple of  his  ready  aggregation,  or  setting  things  in  array.  And  in  this 
field  his  peculiar  facility  was  another  excellence.  In  extempore  prayer 
it  is  as  easy  to  develope  a  train  of  thought  as  to  string  together  com- 
mon-places and  stereotyped  phrases.  Dr.  Alexander  did  neither.  The 
hardest  thing  to  do,  extemporaneously,  is  to  enumerate  particulars  con- 
nected rather  by  a  real  than  by  a  logical  association ;  and  this  is  the 
thing  to  do  in  prayer — set  forth  things  connected  more  by  a  common 
root  in  the  heart's  want,  than  by  abstract  or  mechanical  relations. 
This  came  naturally  to  Dr.  Alexander.  I  think  I  have  never  heard 
any  other  extempore  prayers  so  characterized  as  his  by  this  sim- 
ple collection  of  things  directly  asked  of  the  Lord,  and  at  the  same 
time  so  ready  and  orderly  in  the  enumeration  of  the  things.  He  asked 
for  things  instead  of  descanting  on  subjects." 

Nothing  was  ever  more  truly  or  justly  said.  The  prayers 
of  this  mighty  man  of  God,  were  as  simple  as  those  of  a  little 
child ;  but  they  were  also  the  prayers  of  one  who  sometimes 
found  it  natural  to  unburden  his  heart  in  sentences  and  phra- 
ses, which  though  familiar  in  his  mouth  as  household  words, 
were  such  as  are  not  often  met  with  in  the  language  of  formal 
and  studied  devotion. 

There  was  a  certain  peculiarity  about  the  prayer  before 
lecture.  Dr.  Moore  says  that  his  petitions  in  the  class-room 
always  struck  him  much  more  forcibly  than  his  recitations. 

"  They  had  that  wonderful  concentration  and  variety  with  an  es- 
sential sameness,  which  you  notice  in  Calvin's   prayers  at  the  close  of 


Ms.  26.]  PRAYERS    BEFORE    LECTURE.  379 

his  lectures  on  the  Minor  Prophets;  which  while  they  are  always  sub- 
stantially the  same  in  their  leading  outlines,  yet  gather  up  and  con- 
centrate in  a  few  words  the  substance  of  a  whole  lecture.  His  pray- 
ers were  remarkable  for  their  suggestiveness.  He  would,  bring  in  a 
word,  in  some  connection  that  would  suggest  its  etymology,  or  some 
philological  fact  associated  with  it,  which  threw  a  new  and  rich  light 
on  the  thought  expressed ;  and  although  he  never  dwelt  on  the  sugges- 
tion or  carried  it  out  in  detail,  or  seemed  to  have  thought  of  it  before, 
it  gave  food  for  thinking  long  afterwards.  His  wonderful  fluency 
showed  itself  in  his  prayers  more  than  in  any  other  exercise  I  ever  heard 
him  in  ;  and  I  felt  the  power  of  his  intellect  in  packing,  condensing  and 
arranging  thought,  without  losing  any  of  its  perfect  clearness,  but 
rather  giving  new  light  by  its  angles  of  crystallization:  in  his  prayers 
in  the  class-room  more  than  anywhere  else.  His  command  of  lan- 
guage then  was  very  wonderful,  indeed  to  my  mind  unsurpassed,  espe- 
cially in  that  scholarly  collocation  of  words  that  showed  meanings 
and  relations  of  them  in  his  own  mind  which  this  peculiar  collocation 
indicated  without  exactly  expressing,  and  suggested  so  much  more 
than  was  said." 

•  On  Monday  the  13th  of  December,  Professor  James  Alex- 
ander made  the  acquaintance  of  Signor  Borsieri,  a  friend  of 
Silvio  Pellico,  who  had  been  for  fifteen  years  a  political  jDris- 
oner  in  the  dungeons  of  Italy.  Mr.  Borsieri  was  before  or  after- 
wards presented  to  Mr.  Addison  Alexander,  and  became,  if  I 
mistake  not,  one  of  his  numerous  foreign  teachers.  One  Cap- 
tain Stuart,  a  British  Army  officer,  on  half-pay,  who  had  been 
stationed  many  years  in  Persia  and  was  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  Persian  language,  was  about  this  time  introduced  to 
Mr.  Alexander.  The  Captain  was  a  genuine  John  Bull, 
dressed  in  a  smock-blouse.  On  being  asked  to  give  examples 
of  the  Persian  pronunciation,  he  consented  by  uttering  a  num- 
ber of  harsh  throat-splitting  gutturals.  Mistaking  the  smile 
of  his  listeners  and  the  impression  he  had  made  upon  them,  he 
exclaimed  in  a  tone  of  gratified  bonhomie,  as  if  he  meant  to 
echo  their  inmost  feelings,  "  Pretty  language !  "  There  was 
no  end  to  the  fun  the  cloistered  student  had  with  these  out- 
landish people,  and  with  the  mistakes  and  idiosyncrasies  of 
the  workmen  in  his  employment. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

The  notable  event  of  the  year  1836  was  the  election  of  Mr. 
Alexander,  in  the  month  of  February,  to  the  chair  of  Oriental 
and  Biblical  Literature  in  the  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
just  established  in  the  city  of  New  York.  The  fact  was  never 
generally  known;  for  like  his  father  and  brother  before  him, 
Mr.  Alexander  seldom  spoke  of  such  things;  indeed,  never 
without  strong  reason.  This,  however,  he  respectfully  de- 
clined. Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  on  such  points  was  almost 
absolutely  dumb.  His  son  Addison  was  not  quite  so  reticent, 
but  very  much  so. 

In  January  I  find  him  writing  comments  on  Leviticus  for 
the  benefit  of  his  private  class.  These  records  possess  great 
exegetical  value,  but  are  not  suited  for  extract. 

"Jan.  16. — Finished  my  comments  on  the  5th  chapter  of  Leviticus. 
The  work  becomes  more  and  more  interesting  as  I  get  along  with  it. 
The  chaos  of  the  ritual  begins  already  to  assume  some  shape.  In  the 
afternoon  I  read  Leviticus  v.  5-6,  and  afterwards  wrote  my  notes  on 
Chap.  vi.  1-7." 

At  night  he  diverted  his  mind  over  Dyer's  History  of 
Cambridge,  and  Burnett's  History  of  His  Own  Times.  These 
nocturnal  rambles  in  all  good  literature  were  of  the  utmost 
advantage  to  him  in  his  subsequent  labours  as  a  commentator. 

It  was  at  this  time  usual  with  him  to  go  through  most  of 
his  heavy  work  before  the  twilight.  With  candles  came  the 
joys  of  discursive  wanderings  at  the  sweet  will  of  fancy. 
Perhaps  none  in  Princeton  had  more  real,  inward  content- 
ment. 


^Et.27.]  DISCURSIVE    READING.  381 

"Feb.  13. — Finished  the  Edinburgh  Review  for  October  last.  The 
first  half  of  it  is  dull.  The  article  on  Bolingbroke  is  slight  compared 
with  that  in  the  Quarterly.  Its  only  valad  consists  in  its  citations  from 
Mackintosh's  manuscripts.  The  article  on  political  associations  and  on 
the  House  of  Lords  interested  me,  because  they  let  me  into  the  exist- 
ing statu  of  politics.  I  had  no  idea  of  the  strength  of  the  Tories,  until 
I  learned  it  from  the  concessions  of  this  writer.  But  the  leading  arti- 
cle undoubtedly  is  the  best.  I  cannot  help  feeling  sti.l  that  the  esti- 
mate of  Mackintosh's  power  is  exaggerated  ;  partly  through  the  influ- 
ence of  party  spirit :  but  the  castigation  of  Coleridge  pleases  me  much, 
not  only  by  its  truth  and  spirit,  but  by  the  vivacity  and  vigour  of  the 
style,  which  is  worthy  of  the  old  days  of  the  Review.  The  writer 
must  be  Jeffrey  ;  there  is  n  >t  wit  enough  for  Sydney  Smith ;  the  style  is 
too  correct  and  elegant  for  Brougham;  too  rapid,  affluent  and  laboured 
for  Macaulay.  The  concluding  observations  are  original,  ingenious, 
and  to  me  consolatory." 

The  hints  disclosed  in  these  extracts  of  his  knowledge  of 
contemporary  English  politics,  are  not  delusive.  He  kept 
abreast  of  the  whole  intellectual  movement  of  the  age.  As  in 
his  youth  he  was  mindful  of  the  words  of  the  oracle,  and  found 
no  subject  of  uninspired  knowledge  more  instructive  or  enter- 
taining than  man. 

FROM    ME.    ALEXANDER   TO    MR.    HALL. 

"  Princeton,  April  4,  1836. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : 

"  I  make  bold  to  draw  upon  your  kindness  for  a  favour.  The  ac- 
companying parcel  is  a  '  atin  Dictionary,  sent  to  me  from  Germany, 
in  sheets.  It  is  there  already  bound  in  one  volume,  and  I  am  very 
unwilling  to  have  it  bound  in  two.  •  I  am  afraid  however,  to  trust  a 
country  binder  with  so  thick  a  book.  You  will  oblige  me  greatly  by 
having  it  strongly,  neatly  and  compactly  bound  in  calf,  and  causing  the 
binder's  bill  to  be  sent  to  me.  The  book  itself  may  wait  for  a  conve- 
nient opportunity.  The  inclosed  letter  has  relation  to  the  American 
Quarterly  Review.     As  the  bearer  of  my  despatches  is  a  minor,  I  put 

it  inside  for  greater  safety. 

"  Very  truly,  yours, 

'  J.  ADDISON  ALEXANDER. 


382  QUARTERLY   REVIEW  [isS6. 

"P.  S.— As  you  may  have  some  influeuce  on  the  new  regime  of  the 
Review,  I  beg  that  you  will  take  some  pains  to  free  it  from  two  evils, 
"which  have  greatly  hurt  it :  (1)  The  elementary  or  ABC  character  of 
many  of  its  articles,  particularly  those  on  scientific  subjects,  some  of 
which  have  resembled  the  prefatory  chapter  in  a  college  text-book. 
(2)  The  want  of  that  unity  in  principle  and  sentiment,  both  political 
and  literary,  which  gives  the  Edinburgh  and  Quarterly  their  peculiar 
charm  by  investing  them  respectively  with  a  personal  identity  of  char- 
acter and  tone.  In  my  (humble)  opinion,  the  admission  or  exclusion  of 
discussion  and  diversity  of  sentiment,  on  leading  questions,  is  precisely 
that  which  constitutes  the  specific  difference  between  a  modern  Maga- 
zine and  a  modern  Review. 

"  I  likewise  hope  that  the  new  editors  will  abolish  the  distinction 
between  reviews  and  critical  notices,  as  a  magazineish  feature  unworthy 
of  the  great  guns  of  periodical  literature. 

"Excuse  this  excursus  and  likewise  the  binding-job,  with  which  on 
second  thoughts,  I  am  ashamed  of  troubling  you;  but  those  who  live 
in  the  centre  of  the  world  must  expect  to  be  plagued  with  commis- 
sions from  the  circumference !  " 

Tuesday,  the  5th  of  April,  was  a  cool,  beautiful  day,  of  the 
late  winter  species.  The  frogs  had  just  began  to  sound  their 
instruments  in  the  meadows  upon  Stony  Brook.  The  college 
examination  was  going  on.  In  the  evening  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander  preached  powerfully  to  the  students  from  the  pas- 
sage, "There  is  joy  in  heaven  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth," 
&c.  At  the  close  he  was  seized  with  a  deadly  faintness, 
which  however  left  him  uninjured.  On  the  17th,  which  was 
Sabbath,  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  completed  his  sixty-fourth 
year.  The  college  vacation  commenced  about  the  middle  of 
the  month,  and  Professor  James  Alexander  took  a  trip  to  Vir- 
ginia. On  the  19th  of  April  his  brother  Addison  writes  to 
his  Philadelphia  friend  for  Pichardson's  Arabic  and  Persian 
Dictionary,  which  he  afterwards  reviewed  in  the  Repertory; 
and  on  the  19th  of  May,  to  thank  him  for  some  books  he  had 
had  bound  and  lettered  for  him,  and  to  beg  him  to  go  in  quest 
of  an  inkstand  of  peculiar  shajie.  These  commissions  were 
always  discharged  with  punctual  fidelity,  and  this,  fact  went 
far  to   cement  a   friendship  which  was  already  one  of  great 


Ms.  2T.J  DR.    RAMSEY.  383 

strength.    Mr.  Alexander  never  forgot  a  kindness,  and  though 
he  said  little,  was  one  of  the  most  grateful  beings  I  ever  knew. 

The  Commencement  this  year  was  largely  attended,  and 
was  dignified  by  the  presence  of  General  Harrison,  who  made 
a  speech  in  the  Campus. 

It  is  now  my  privilege  to  spread  before  the  reader  some 
of  the  recollections  of  the  Rev.  James  B.  Ramsey  of  Lynch- 
burg, Va.,  who  was  four  years  under  the  tuition  of  Mr.  Alexan- 
der as  a  student  in  the  Theological  Seminary,  viz :  from  1S3G  to 
1839.  His  reminiscences  will  be  all  the  more  prized  when  it  is 
known  that  they  were  written  in  the  chamber  of  suffering,  and 
at  much  cost  of  strength  and  feeling.  Dr.  Ramsey  entered 
the  Seminary,  in  the  autumn  of  1836,  but  does  not  think  he 
ever  spoke  to  Mr.  Alexander  except  in  recitation.  He  has 
however,  a  very  definite  impression  of  him  as  he  appeared  in 
the  class-room,  and  of  the  impatience  he  manifested  and 
uttered,  at  the  idleness  of  some  of  the  students.  The  remarks 
were  usually  very  brief  but  very  keen ;  and  made  him  very 
unpopular  with  a  portion  of  the  class. 

"My  own  feelings,"  says  Dr.  Eamsey,  "and  that  of  others  too,  of 
all  as  I  regarded  it,  who  took  the  right  view  of  the  subject,  was  that  he 
never  uttered  a  sentence  too  severe  for  conduct  so  utterly  unworthy  of 
a  student  for  the  ministry.*    I  felt  glad  that  conduct  which  it  seemed  to 

*  Dr.  Hall  writes,  that  his  relations  to  Dr.  Alexander,  from  the  time  when 
the  former  became  a  member  of  the  first  class  he  taught  in  the  Seminar}',  to 
that  of  their  last  interview  previous  to  the  death  of  the  latter,  were  of  the 
most  agreeable  character.  He  has  none  but  pleasant  recollections  of  him.  He 
admired  him  as  a  prodigy  of  learning  and  a  most  versatile  genius :  while  he 
loved  him  for  the  kindly  interest  he  manifested  in  all  who  wished  to  make  pro- 
gress in  their  studies.  "He  was  never  pleased  with  young  men  who  neglected 
preparations  for  the  class-room,  or  who  attempted  to  recite  when  it  was 
too  evident  that  they  had  given  little  attention  to  study.  His  patience 
was  sometimes  sorely  tried  by  students  who  seemed  to  lack  conscien- 
tiousness, and  a  proper  sense  of  their  responsibility  as  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try." Dr.  Hall  never  knew  him  to  administer  a  rebuke  to  one  of  this  class  un- 
less it  was  richly  deserved,  "  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  his  keen  satire  in  a 
few  such  cases  has  done  immense  good  to  many  others  besides  the  persons 
addressed." 


384  ABHORRENCE    OF   DRONES.  [1836. 

me,  would  have  incurred  censure  in  a  Freshman  in  college,  and  have 
placed  hini  in  the  lowest  grade  at  least  of  scholarship  and  diligence, 
should  be  held  up  to  scorn  and  contempt. 

"In  the  autumn  of  1837  he  volunteered  to  give  a  course  of  lec- 
tures to  three  or  four  of  our  class,  on  the  book  of- Leviticus.  Drs.  D.m- 
iel  Stewart  and  M.  W.  Jacobus  were  of  that  number  as  well  as  myself. 
The  exercise  was  recitation  and  lecture  intermingled,  and  was  a  rich 
treat."  He  was  never  more  at  his  ease  than  on  the^e  occasions,  or 
appeared  to  be  more  completely  master  of  his  theme.  An  abstract  of 
these  lectures  is  still  preserved  by  this  pupil.  "  He  evidenily  took 
great  delight  in  communicating  knowledge,  and  before  such  as  appre- 
ciate 1  them  he  poured  forth  copiously  his  stores  of  learning  with  great 
childish  simplicity  of  language  and  manner." 

The  intense  abhorrence  and  disgust  which  the  Professor 
ever  showed  for  these  Seminary  drones,  their  culpable  igno- 
rance, and  especially  the  attempt  to  cover  it  up,  and  to  give 
an  impression  of  knowledge  where  there  was  evident  con- 
sciousness of  neglect,  and  for  everything  like  conceit,  rather 
tended  to  make  Mr.  Ramsey  take  a  strong  liking  to  him ;  for 
it  seemed  to  him  that 

"  There  were  some  there,  who,  had  they  been  dealt  with  as  f.iith- 
fulness  to  the  church  required,  would  have  been  dismissed  and  ordered 
to  betake  themselves  to  some  other  calling  in  which  laziness  and  vanity 
might  better  be  tolerated." 

The  opening  lecture  one  year  while  the  writer  was  there 
was  delivered  by  Mr.  Alexander,  from  the  passage  "  Let  no 
man  despise  thy  youth,"  and  it  was  made  to  bear  with  tre- 
mendous severity  upon  those  who  were  frivolous  and  negli- 
gent of  their  duty;  and  though  some  thought  its  spirit  of 
caustic  satire  not  altogether  appropriate,  it  was  heartily  ap- 
proved by  the  writer  : 

"I  have  no  doubt,"  he  says  "  that  it  was  just  the  very  thing  need- 
ed, and  that  by  the  very  keenness  of  its  point  it  penetrated  the  blunt- 
ed sensibilities  of  a  few  who  could  be  made  to  believe  in  no  other  way, 
w Idle  it  did  good  to  the  whole  class,  profiling  even  those  who  were 
tenderly  conscientious  and  circumspect." 


JBrt.  27.]  GENTLENESS.  385 

The  pupil  thought  then  and  thinks  now  that  the  Professor 
showed,  as  he  says,  "  not  a  little  patience  with  our  blunders 
and  slowness  in  learning  the  Hebrew."  And  the  impression 
always  produced  on  his  mind  by  his  teaching  was  that  of 
great  kindness  and  magnanimity  toward  all  who  appeared 
anxious  to  do  their  duty.  He  was  himself  exceedingly  timid,  and 
whenever  called  upon  in  class  during  the  first  year,  rose  con- 
fused and  often  found  it  difficult  to  express  himself  without 
painful  hesitation ;  yet  he  fails  to  remember  having  seen  the 
first  mark  of  restless  anger  in  his  teacher,  or  to  have  been  treated 
with  anything  but  the  greatest  gentleness ;  so  that  he  often  felt 
grateful  for  the  forbearance  shown,  and  to  use  his  own  words, 
"very  much  ashamed  of  myself  for  giving  occasion  for  it." 

The  same  writer  was  one  of  those  who  sought  him  out  in  his 
study,  and  like  most  others  who  did  so  was  agreeably  disap- 
pointed. 

"  My  first  visit  to  his  room  was,  if  I  remember  right,  at  the  end  of 
the  first  year,  during  vacation,  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  his  sending 
for  me,  to  offer  me  a  situation  as  teacher  in  a  private  family  in  town 
(Commodore  Stockton's).  I  occasionally  after  this  called  upon  him, 
but  never  without  a j^ositive  cause;  and  I  always  found  him  perfectly 
accessible  and  ready  to  hear  patiently,  and  attend  to,  anything  I  had  to 
say :  and  there  was  no  professor  there  to  whom  I  went  with  more  per- 
fect freedom  from  undue  constraint  than  to  him."  lie  had  much  more 
difficulty  in  feeling  at  his  ease  with  some  of  the  other  professors.  A 
"vast  gulf "  seemed  to  separate  him  from  them.  This,  he  imagines, 
may  have  been  "  all  his  own  fault." 

"On  one  occasion  I  remember  calling  0:1  him  (Addison)^-it  was 
during  my  last  year — with  a  passage  in  Hebrew,  in  1  Sam.,  chap.  xx. 
which  I  could  make  nothing  of.  He  looked  at  it,  and  not  finding  any 
solution  of  the  difficulty,  after  looking  at  some  commentaries,  told  me 
to  call  in  again  in  a  few  days,  and  in  the  mean  time  he  would  see  if  he 
could  find  any  more  plausible  attempt  at  a  solution." 

Before  he  called,  the  Professor  sent  for  him  and  showed  him, 
in  some  old  German,  commentary  what  seemed  to  be  a  very 
ingenious  solution  indeed,  based  of  course  upon  the  supposi- 
tion that  some  slight  error  must  have  crept  into  the  text;. 

V 


386  INTEREST    IN    HIS    CLASS.  [1836. 

"  It  was,  however,  the  interest  which  he  so  promptly  took  in  the 
matter,  and  the  pains  he  was  at  to  find  out  everything  which  could  be 
found  out  in  that  little  affair  of  minute  criticism,  that  was  so  pleasing 
to  a  student,  such  as  I  then  was,  and  that  was  so  unlike  what  many- 
have  thought  of  him." 

The  minuteness  and  wide  extent  of  his  scholarship  were 
constantly  appearing  in  the  allusions  and  illustrations  to 
which  the  teacher  continually  had  recourse,  especially  in  his 
familiar  and  least  elaborate  lectures. 

"  N"o  one  "  he  says,  "  could  help  feeling  the  vast  difference  between 
the  instructions  of  such  a  man,  and  those  of  one  perhaps  equally 
familiar  with  the  immediate  subject  of  instruction,"  but  one  who  in 
his  comparative  ignorance  of,  or  non-acquaintance  with,  matters  which 
were  but  remotely  connected  with  his  chair,  should  be  constantly  be- 
traying that  he  was  a  man  of  "far  narrower  range  of  thought  and 
knowledge." 

He  seemed  to  be  almost  unconscious  of  his  own  laro*e  re- 
sources  ;  and  his  pupils  always  believed  him  to  be  just  as  hum- 
ble as  he  was  learned  and  able.  There  was  often  exhibited  a 
feeling  of  dissatisfaction  with  himself  and  his  own  methods 
and  plans, 

"  And  a  way  of  speaking  of  others  who  were  greatly  his  inferiors 
in  every  particular,  that  seemed  strange  to  those  who  regarded  him  as 
so  great  a  man."  This  feeling  of  dissatisfaction  with  his  own  arrange- 
ments, "  led  him  very  frequently  to  change  his  course  and  method. 
His  ideal  of  everything  seemed  to  be  even  further  beyond  his  attain- 
ment, than  his  attainment  was  beyond  that  of  almost  all  others." 

The  writer  pays  a  just  tribute  to  the  value  of  his  teacher's 
oral  expositions : 

"As  an  exegete,  I  hardly  know  how  he  could  be  excelled.  His 
analyses,  with  which  he  introduced  each  exegetical  lecture,  so  concise, 
so  clear,  so  simple,  were  themselves  far  better  than  most  commentaries." 
To  their  class  he  lectured  only  on  part  of  Isaiah  and  the  Messianic 
Psalms.  "To  his  lectures  on  the  first  ten  chapters  of  Isaiah  I  owe 
more  than  to  all  the  other  instructions  received  in  the  Seminary,  as  to 


.Ex.  27.]  ORAL    EXPOSITIONS.  387 

the  method  of  analyzing  and  expounding  Scripture."  Speaking  of  tho 
valuable  labours  of  certain  other  expositors,  the  writer  goes  on  to  say 
that  he  profited  comparatively  little  by  them  in  this  respect.  "  I  learn- 
ed indeed  the  meaning  of  much  I  did  not  know  before ;  I  received  a 
certain  quantum  of  explanations ;  but  I  did  not  even  begin  to  learn  how 
to  explain  tho  Bible  myself.  But  I  had  not  got  through  with  the  first 
chapter  of  Isaiah  with  Dr.  Alexander's  lectures  till  I  felt  as  if  I  had 
become  conscious  almost  of  a  new  power.  Every  passage  he  touched 
seemed  to  be  suddenly  lighted  up  with  a  new  beauty  and  glory,  and 
often  a  single  remark  would  bo  so  suggestive  that  it  seemed  at  once  to 
pour  light  all  over  the  Bible,  to  bring  up  into  new  and  striking  associa- 
tion other  truths  and  passages,  and  to  stimulate  the  mind  to  the  highest 
activity,  and  fill  it  with  wonder  at  the  amazing  fulness  of  God's  word." 

The  class  of  expounders  to  whom  Dr.  Ramsey  had  referred, 
were  equal  to  no  such  mighty  office  as  this.     They 

"Would  give  us  the  minute  details  of  criticism — repeated  over  and 
•ver  as  they  occurred,  and  leave  us  to  generalize  for  ourselves.  Dr. 
Alexander  would  bundle  up  a  hundred  of  these  at  once,  and  give  us 
the  principles. 

"  Another  striking  trait  of  his  exegetical  lectures  was  that  his 
faith  in  the  simple  statements  of  the  Bible  was  so  childlike  and  so  per- 
fect. This  reverence  for  the  sacred  text  was  one  of  his  noblest  quali- 
fications for  an  instructor  in  these  times.  This  was  abundantly  mani- 
fest in  his  works,  but  the  impression  made  by  his  lectures  as  we  heard 
them,  was  still  stronger. 

"  The  comprehensiveness  of  mind,  and  the  elevated  point  from 
which  he  looked  on  any  topic  of  Biblical  exposition  or  of  ministerial 
duty  enabled  him  often  to  compress  into  a  remark  some  pregnant 
truth  that  no  amount  of  details  could  ever  have  imparted.  I  got  more 
good  from  a  single  remark  of  his,  made  to  a  few  of  us  who  met  him 
the  last  year  in  a  private  class,  than  from  all  the  lectures  and  books  on 
Homiletics.  It  was  in  substance  this  :  to  collect  the  other  passages  of 
Scripture  bearing  on  the  same  point  as  the  text,  and  to  let  your  heads 
and  divisions  be  but  the  exposition,  virtually  at  least,  of  these ;  and 
thus  avoid  the  danger  of  substituting  human  reasonings  for  God's 
"Word,  and  at  the  same  time  secure  endless  variety." 

Dr.  Ramsey  regarded  Mr.  Alexander's  as  the  most  power- 
ful intellect  with  which  he  ever  came  in  contact. 


388  MASSIVE    INTELLECT.  [1836. 

"  It  was,  to  my  apprehension  best  characterized  as  massive.  But  it 
was  as  beautiful,  as  well  proportioned,  as  it  was  massive,  and  all  its  op- 
erations were  as  easy  and  exact  as  they  were  powerful.  To  use  rather 
a  rude  comparison,  it  was  like  an  elephant's  trunk ;  it  could  pick  up  a 
pin,  and  pluck  up  a  tree  by  the  roots,  with  equal  ease. 

"  And  yet  the  meekness  and  teachableness  of  the  man  was  just  as 
manifest.  lie  seemed  to  be  ready  to  learn  something  from  everybody. 
And  the  perfect  docility  of  his  great  mind  to  the  slightest  whisper  of 
God's  Word  was  its  crowning  glory. 

'•  It  would  be  strange  indeed  if,  so  conversant  as  he  was  with  God's 
word,  and  reverencing  it  as  he  did,  he  did  not  manifest  it  by  his  holi- 
ness and  nearness  to  God.  And  especially  during  the  latter  part  of  my 
course  in  the  Seminary  were  we  impressed  with  this ;  and  the  remark 
Avas  often  made  that  Dr.  Addison  was  a  man  that  walked  with  God, 
and  was  evidently  growing  in  grace.  His  preaching,  his  lectures,  and 
his  prayers  gave  proof  of  this.  And  on  all  proper  occasions  he  would 
converse  on  the  subject  of  experimental  religion  with  a  zest  and  inter- 
est, that  showed  how  much  he  meditated  upon  it,  and  how  he  sought 
to  have  his  own  heart  brought  under  its  full  power."  While  a  student, 
Dr.  Ramsey  did  not  see  him  very  often  in  private.  "  Of  course  my  per- 
sonal intercourse  was  very  limited  :  the  vast  distance  between  us  in 
every  respect  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  venture  into  his  company 
except  when  necessary." 


He  often  beard  the  students  speak  of  the  Professor's  tradi- 
tionary "peculiarities;  "  but  if  Mr.  Alexander  possessed  traits 
which  could  be  described  by  this  term,  he  never  became  cog- 
nizant of  them  ;  he  was  never  placed  in  circumstances  in  which 
lie  observed  any  special  peculiarities. 

This  testimony  is  greatly  strengthened  by  that  of  others* 
The  dreaded  Hebraist  was  of  the  sanguineo-choleric  tempera- 
ment ;  and  though  naturally  patient  and  affectionate,  he 
bad  a  stern  eye  to  duty ;  was  inflexibly  honest  and  just 
and  if  his  anger  was  once  kindled,  it  burnt  like  tinder.  The 
spark,  however,  Avas  extinct  almost  as  soon  as  it  was  struck 
out.  There  were  at  these  rare  times  a  flash — a  blaze — an  ex- 
plosion ;  and  then  all  was  over :  but  not  before  some  one  had 


-SkST.]  IMPETUOUS    FEELINGS.  389 

been  struck  clown  and  terribly  shaken  by  the  concussion.* 
After  giving  way  to  his  impetuous  feelings,  none  was  more 
ready  to  acknowledge  his  failing  than  he  was  himself:  but 
not  so  were  some  of  his  best  and  most  pious  pupils.  There 
were  some  in  nearly  every  class,  who  like  Dr.  Ramsey 
justified  him  with  scarce  an  exception  in  everything  he 
said  and  did  while  in  the  chair.  This  is  as  much  as  can  be 
said  for  most  thoroughgoing  disciplinarians,  and  perhaps  as 
much  as  need  be  said  for  any  man. 

But  in  the  popular  sense  of  the  term,  he  was  not  very 
peculiar  or  eccentric.  He  was  the  roundest  man  I  ever 
knew.  It  is  a  great  though  common  mistake,  to  suppose  that 
there  was  anything  outre  about  him.  He  was  certainly  diffi- 
dent, or  rather  shy,  and  sometimes  bashful,  and  that  to  a  very 
poignant  degree,  and  some  of  his  habits  of  mind  as  well  as  of 
body  had  possibly  become  a  little  morbid,  and  in  both  cases 
from  the  disuse  or  seclusion  of  certain  of  his  powers.  But  he 
was  not  as  compared  with  men  generally,  odd,  droll,  or  queer. 
He  was  no  Samuel  Johnson,  as  that  huge  personage  appears 
in  the  pages  of  Macaulay  and  Bos  well.  fie  was  no 
mere  heluo  Ijbrorum,  like  Dr.  Parr,  with  no  acquaintance  with 
the  world  and  in  a  manner  lost  to  the  feelings  and  sympathies 
of  his  race.  He  was  no  Dominie  Sampson  to  be  annoyed  be- 
cause he  could  not  give  his  friend  Dandie  Dinmont  the  praise 
of  "  erudition."  He  was,  it  is  true,  a  man  of  extraordinary 
learning,  and  of  great  powers  ;  he  was  to  a  great  extent  isola- 
ted from  his  fellow  beings  :  but  when  one  drew  near  to  him- 
one  found  him  to  be  in  other  respects,  like  any  other  man  of 
cultivated  taste  and  refinement. 

Many  current  stories  about  him  are  sheer  lies,  and  some  of 
them  very  malicious  ones.  A  sufficient  answer  to  all  such 
idle  tales  is  the  unquestionable  fact  that  Mr.  Alexander,  what- 
ever else  he  was,  was  a  pleasant  Christian  gentleman,  and  a 

*  As  in  the  case  of  another,  of  whom  he  has  written  very  amusingly,  the 
svuTerer  smarting  under  the  sting  of  his  terrible  repartee  too  often  mistook 
"  cool  contempt "  for  "  rabid  rage." 


390  CURRENT    STORIES.  [1836. 

man  of  exquisite  common  sense.  It  is  true  that  for  the  most 
part  he  shunned  promiscuous  company.  It  was  his  fancy  to 
do  so.  He  had  no  time  for  society.  Every  hour  was  consecra- 
ted to  hard  work  in  his  Master's  service.  Then,  again,  he  had 
perhaps  as  much  morbid  consciousness  of  being  observed,  and 
as  violent  a  repugnance  to  being  stared  at  and  commented  upon, 
and  patronized  by  his  inferiors,  as  any  man  living.  And  to 
crown  all,  the  habit  of  solitude  had  become  to  him  a  second 
nature. 

As  Byron  did  not  like  to  be  treated  as  a  poet,  but  as  a  man 
of  the  world ;  so  Mr.  Alexander  did  not  like  to  be  treated  as  a 
prodigy,  a  book-worm,  a  dangerous  person  to  approach 
or  in  any  sense  an  exceptional  man;  but  as  a  gentleman 
of  piety  and  good  breeding,  with  the  common  manners 
and  sympathies.  He  felt  that  he  was  not  exceptional  in 
the  sense  supposed,  and  with  his  acute  observation  and  sensi- 
tively quick  apprehension  of  the  thoughts  and  designs  of  those 
■who  approached  him,  it  hurt  his  nice  sensibilities  and  touched 
his  self  respect,  when  he  was  regarded  in  a  light  that  was  so 
untrue  and  so  obnoxious  to  his  feelings.  He  was  equally 
averse  to  bein^  either  browbeaten  or  flattered.  If  he  was  ex- 
ceptional  in  anything,  it  was  in  the  strength  and  honest  ex- 
pression in  his  case  of  this  very  natural  state  of  mind.  There 
were  no  anomalies  in  his  psychological  structure  ;  every  devi- 
ation, so  to  say,  from  the  usual  or  regular  inflection,  was 
strictly  subject  to  the  law  of  the  formation.  Any  one  might 
know  beforehand  precisely  how  he  would  act  in  given  circum- 
stances, so  far  as  one  may  ever  know  this  in  the  case  of  a 
person  of  great  talents  and  originality  and  quick  emotional 
impidses. 

If  he  was  met  boldly,  frankly,  unsuspectingly,  and  treated 
as  any  other  man  of  high  notions  of  propriety  and  nice  feel- 
ings of  delicacy ;  and  he  were  not  too  much  occupied  to  stop 
work :  no  one  could  be  more  agreeable,  more  conversible,  more 
friendly,  more  free  and  easy;  or  if  an  opportunity  arose,  more 
full  of  sunshine  and  gaiety  ;  in  short,  more  perfectly  delightful 
as  a  companion.      Bat  there  were  certain  classes  of  men  ho 


JEt.  27.]  OFFENSIVE    MANNERS.  391 

could  not  always  tolerate  ;  there  were  certain  moments  when 
he  could  not,  and  would  not  put  up  with  bores,  idiots, 
sponges,  and  sycophants  ;  or  with  curious  visitors  who  were 
blown  with  self-conceit  or  bursting  with  arrogance.  If  such  char- 
acters persisted  in  annoying  him,  he  would  sometimes  admin- 
ister a  reprimand  which  even  a  fool  case-hardened  in  his  folly 
could  never  forget.  He  would  now  and  then  have  recourse  to 
the  weapon  of  sarcasm;  which  in  such  cases  would  gleam  for 
a  twinkling  in  the  air  and  then  take  off  the  head  of  the  offen- 
der like  the  cymitar  of  Saladin.  More  generally  in  such 
situations  he  was  simply  silent,  cool,  impassive  ;  answering  in 
mild  but  expressive  monosyllables ;  and  soon  turned  his  back  up- 
on the  intrudei-.  He  also  found  it  extremely  hard  to  get  alono- 
with  very  timid  persons,  or  those  who  were  too  evidently  afraid 
of  him.  It  worried  him  and  made  him  appear  cold  and  taci- 
turn. Often  this  was  nothing  but  sheer  sensibility.  At  times 
he  had  laid  out  a  certain  amount  of  work  and  did  not  wish  to 
be  disturbed.  At  such  times,  not  caring  to  open  the  door  and 
bow  his  visitor  out,  he  wTould  adopt  such  a  manner  as  suffi- 
ciently to  intimate  that  he  was  engaged  and  did  not  choose  to 
be  interrupted.  Any  man  of  real  sense  could  tell  when  this 
was  the  case,  and  could  see  at  once  that  no  unkindness  was 
meant.  All  these  little  individual  traits  which  have  been  so 
much  overdrawn  in  some  quarters  may  be  resolved,  except  so 
far  as  they  sprung  from  physical  causes,  or  from  close  applica- 
tion to  his  studies,  into  varying  expressions  of  a  certain  sensi- 
tive shyness  and  fastidiousness  of  feeling,  coupled  with  a  wish 
to  be  thought  like  other  men ;  an  instinctive  and  refined 
knowledge  of  human  nature;  and  the  most  transj>arent  hon- 
esty. 

It  ought  also  to  be  said  that  like  his  father  before  him,  he 
was  to  some  degree  under  the  influence  of  changes  in  the 
weather.  He  was  shrewdly  affected  by  the  east  wind.  This 
was  still  more  true  of  his  brother  James.  A  bright,  clear  day 
acted  upon  him  like  champagne.  Dark  and  wet  days  opera- 
ted as  a  damper  on  the  spirits.  In  the  case  of  Dr.  Archibald 
Alexander,  the  effect  of  easterly  weather  was  instantaneously 


392  EFFECTS    OF    THE    WEATHER.  [1836. 

felt,  and  exhibited  by  a  drooping  gait  and  air,  and  an  absence 
of  his  wonted  elasticity  and  buoyant  cheerfulness.  In  the 
case  of  his  son  Addison,  the  same  effect  was  produced,  though 
not  so  invariably,  and  never  in  anything  like  so  great  a  degree. 
The  weather  often  occasioned  him  disagreeable  bodily  sensa- 
tions, and  sometimes  made  him  silent,  or  gave  him  a  touch  of 
the  "  blues."  He  acknowledges  his  vulnerability  on  this  point 
in  several  entries  in  his  European  Journals. 

But  after  taking  everything  into  the  estimate,  and  looking 
at  him  in  the  broad,  common  way,  it  must  be  conceded  that 
Mr.  Alexander,  though  greater  and  better  than  most  of  them, 
was,  on  the  whole,  and  especially  in  little  things,  surprisingly 
like  the  rest  of  mankind.  He  was  not  a  monster,  or  a  learned 
automaton  ;  but  aside  from  his  gifts  and  attainments,  a  gentle, 
tractable,  teachable,  loveable,  true-hearted  man. 

His  pupils  were  not  slow  to  find  this  out ;  and  numbers 
of  them,  after  becoming  fairly  acquainted  with  him,  stood 
in  greater  fear  of  several  of  the  other  Professors  than  they 
did  of  him.  They  were,  as  a  body,  proud  of  him ;  and  looked 
ujion  him  as  one  of  the  noblest  Christian  scholars  and  brightest 
geniuses  in  the  world.  Whenever  it  was  announced  that  he 
was  to  preach  in  the  town  of  Princeton,  the  students  would 
desert  the  Seminary  chapel  almost  en  masse.  They  knew  that 
they  had  some  reason  to  expect  one  of  his  brilliant  flights  of 
eloquence.  These  he  would  not  often  give  them  in  the  chapel. 
He  would  merely  lecture  in  a  close  exegetical  way.  They 
called  him  by  an  amiable  nickname,  which  however  disagree- 
able it  would  have  been  to  the  feelings  of  the  Professor,  showed 
how  much  at  home  they  felt  in  his  presence,  and  the  affection 
they  had  for  his  person. 

The  simple  truth  was  that  those  who  attended  to  their 
lessons,  which  were  always  made  plain  to  the  dullest  com- 
prehension, could  not  fail  to  be  fascinated  and  at  length 
carried  away  captive,  not  only  by  the  teacher,  but  the  man. 
There  was  at  times  something  so  childlike  and  naif  about 
him ;  something  so  engaging  about  his  looks,  the  tones 
of    his    voice,   and    his    characteristic    ways    in    the    class- 


.Ex.  27.]  ART    NAPOLEON.  393 

room,  as  well  as  about  his  patient,  kind,  forbearing,  cordial 
disposition ;  mingled  with,  or  rather  in  a  subtle  way  succeeded 
by  an  indefinable  something  that  was  on  occasion  so  startling, 
swift,  magnetic,  so  impi*egnated  with  genius,  so  perempto- 
rily commanding  awe  and  obedience,  so  suggestive  of  slum- 
bering or  waking  prowess,  and  so  ominous  of  assured  triumph ; 
in  a  word,  something  so  strangely  Napoleonic ;  that,  as  on 
other  accounts,  his  favorite  pupils  had  for  him  much  the  same 
sort  of  vivid  feeling  that  the  Old  Guard  had  for  the  First  Con- 
sul and  the  Emperor;  while  the  body  of  the  class  had  the 
more  quiet  feeling  of  admiration  that  was  generally  prevalent 
in  the  French  army. 

He  had,  too,  the  "  art  Napoleon"  as  an  instructor  (which 
was  possessed  in  so  high  a  degree  by  Dr.  Thomas  Brown  of 
Edinburgh,  and  by  Sir  William  Hamilton  and  Professor  Fara- 
day) of  inspiring  his  pupils  with  a  lofty  enthusiasm,  which  did 
not  burn  out  when  they  left  the  halls  of  the  recitation-room. 
What  he  was  as  a  Professor  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
with  all  his  other  gifts,  he  was  apt  to  teach.  Dr.  Hodge  testi- 
fies that  he  always  secured  the  attention,  admiration,  and 
confidence  of  his  classes.  He  never  failed  to  interest  them  in 
the  subject  under  discussion,  and  he  never  failed  to  instruct 
them.  "  His  views  were  comprehensive,  and  so  clearly  exhib- 
ited that  the  minds  of  his  pupils  were  expanded  under  his  in- 
fluence, at  the  same  time  that  they  were  elevated.  He  made 
the  Bible  glorious  to  them.  This  remark  I  have  heard  from 
the  lips  of  those  who  sat  under  his  teachings." 

Almost  the  only  hint  I  have  been  able  to  obtain  from  the 
diaries  in  my  possession  as  to  Mr.  Alexander's  outward  life  at 
this  time,  is  contained  in  the  brief  statement  that  on  Monday, 
the  3d  of  October,  after  a  night  of  rain,  and  while  his  father 
was  in  New  York,  and  amidst  tidings  of  more  deaths  from 
"  the  fever,  "  he  was  engaged  in  "  the  removal  of  his  effects 
into  the  ancient  house  on  the  Canal  street."*     It  is  hard  to 

*  This  was  an  old  house  that  had  been  removed  from  another  part  of  the 
town  and  occupied  by  a   Mr.  Noah  Green,  and  was   from  this   fact  playfully 
called  "  Noah's  Ark.  " 
11* 


394  PRIVATE    PUPILS.  [1836. 

keep  up  with  his  various  changes  of  geographical  position  and 
residence.  His  migrations  were  almost  as  short  and  quite  as 
frequent  as  these  of  good  Dr.  Primrose  from  the  blue  bed  to 
the  brown.  He  bung  over  every  new  scene  like  a  humming- 
bird, poised  indeed,  but  ready  to  dart  at  any  moment.  The 
delight  he  experienced  in  these  strange  movements  was  that  of 
a  child  in  its  fervour  and  intensity,  and  was  just  as  transitory. 
Among  his  principal  companions  this  year  were  his  two 
private  pupils,  Henry  M.  Alexander  his  youngest  brother,  and 
Samuel  Harrison  Howell,  son  of  a  skilful  physician  of 
Princeton.  The  boys  used  to  meet  him  at  his  quarters  on  the 
Trenton  Turnpike,  and  when  out  of  school  had  much  pleasure 
and  fun  with  him.  "When  the  fever  was  raging  in  the  neigh- 
borhood no  family  suffered  more  grievously  than  that  of  Dr. 
Howell,  the  faithful  nurse  and  medical  adviser  of  the  sick. 
Several  members  of  his  family  contacted  the  disease,  and  two 
of  them  died  of  it,  as  he  did  himself.  Mr.  Alexander  was  much 
affected  to  learn  that  his  little  pupil  and  playmate  was  also 
seized  sometime  afterward,  and  wrote  him  a  long  whimsical  let- 
ter in  the  shape  of  machine  poetry;  portions  of  which  are  here 
given,  not  to  show  his  genius  or  his  learning  but  his  simple  kind- 
ness of  heart.  They  vividly  paint  the  scene  presented  to  master 
and  pupils  in  their  leisure  hours,  as  well  as  the  rude  furniture 
with  which  the  memory  of  the  teacher  was  associated  in  the 
minds  of  the  pupils.  They  also  greatly  magnify  the  very 
questionable  advantages  and  ornameutal  qualities  of  the  quaint 
house  on  Canal  street,  into  which  the  former  was  thinking  of 
"flitting."  I  can  only  find  room  for  the  first  part  of  this  letter. 

"  I  thank  God  for  the  favour,  as  I  reckon  it  to  be,  not  only  to  yourself 
and  your  relations,  but  to  me ;  and  I  trust  that  he  will  give  you,  in  ex- 
change for  pains  and  tears,  entire  restoration  and  a  length  of  happy 
years.  I  have  tried  hard  to  forget  you,  Hal ;  but  how  can  I  succeed, 
when  every  chair  I  sit  upon,  and  every  book  I  read,  recall  to  recollec- 
tion in  one  way  or  another,  my  little  playmate,  room-mate,  pupil- 
Friend,  and  younger  brother  ?  When  I  look  at  the  round  table,  or  the 
broken  arm-chair,  I  easily  persuade  myself  that  he  is  sitting  there ;  and 
when  gaizing  from   the  window    I  can  almost  see  him  still,   coming 


Mr.  27.1  RHYMING    LETTER.  395 

slowly  with  his  hooks  and  his  umbrella  down  the  hill.  Methinks  I 
hear  his  light  step  upon  the  entry  floor,  and  the  sound  of  his  umbrella 
as  he  sets  it  by  the  door.  I  hear  him  turn  the  lock ;  I  see  him  enter 
with  a  smile,  my  solitude  to  sweeten  and  my  languor  to  beguile. 
Methinks  I  see  him  offer  me  an  apple  or  a  peach,  with  a  look  that 
overpays  me  fur  the  little  I  can  teach.  Methinks  I  see  him  put  his  cap 
upon  the  closet  shelf — every  motion,  every  attitude  is  that  of  Hal  him- 
self. But  when  I  wish  to  speak  to  him  the  vision  fades  away.  I  miss 
the  gentle  voice  that  used  to  cheer  me  every  day.  I  miss  the  real 
presence  of  my  real  little  friend.  I  miss  it  in  the  evening  when  my 
toils  are  at  an  end.  I  miss  it  in  my  homeward  walks ;  I  miss  it  even 
more  when  I  sit  in  my  old  elbow  chair  behind  the  chapel  door. 
Whatever  else  I  see  or  have,  I  find  I  must  and  shall  continue  to  miss 
something  and  that  something  is  my  Hal.  But  when  I  recollect  my 
boy  that  you  are  safe  and  sound,  I  feel  that  for  repining  I  have  no  ex- 
cuse or  ground." 

Even  if  lie  should  not  be  allowed  to  see  his  face  again,  it 
will  always  be  grateful  to  his  heart  to  hear  that  his  pupil  is 
good  and  happy.  He  nevertheless  indulges  the  hope  of  a 
pleasant  re-union  with  his  little  friend,  and  in  the  meanwhile 
resolves  to  do  his  best  to  keep  in  good  spirits. 

But  Mr.  Alexander  was  not  always  to  be  found  on  Hender- 
son Hill  or  at  the  "  Ark."  He  was  as  fond  of  going  about  as 
ever.  The  modes  of  travel  were  at  this  time  a  little  anti- 
quated ;  though  railways  were  in  use,  and  the  applications  of 
steam  well  understood.  A  gentleman  of  Newark,  for  instance, 
wishing  to  go  to  Princeton,  would  perhaps  ride  in  his  stan- 
hope or  barouche  to  the  Market-street  stand,  where  he  would 
find  a  horse  car,  in  which,  he  would  be  conveyed  to  the  Bruns- 
wick depot.  There  he  would  enter  a  steam  carriage,  which 
would  take  him  from  the  depot  to  East  Brunswick.  Thence  he 
would  be  hauled  in  an  omnibus  to  the  wagon-coach  running  to 
Balser's  tavern;  Avhich  being  at  the  juncture  full,  would  have 
to  be  exchanged  for  an  old  fashioned  stage-coach,  that  was  sure 
to  break  down  at  or  near  the  canal  barge  at  Kingston,  from 
which  the  jaded  traveller  was  fain  to  emerge  and  deposit  him- 
self in  the  canal-hack  plying  betwixt  the  Princeton  Basin  and 
the  collegiate  groves  and  campus.     There  was  much  room  for 


396  TRAVELLING.  £1836. 

adventure  on  these  trips,  and  the  vicissitude  suited  the  temper 
of  a  man  who  like  Mr.  Alexander  loved  to  go  through  as  many 
small  external  transformations  as  possible.  The  journey  was 
notwithstanding  very  irksome  and  fatiguing. 

On  Thursday,  the  20th  of  October,  the  arrival  of  a 
young  Greek  from  Athens  was  reported,  one  of  Dr.  King's 
proteges,  by  the  name  of  Luke  Oeconomos.  He  was  subse- 
quently followed  by  another  named  Constantine  Menaios, 
from  whom  Mr.  Alexander  learned  the  Romaic,  and  under 
whose  guidance  he  became  a  proficient  in  writing  and  perhaps 
speaking  it.  Mr.  Oeconomos  was  a  young  man  of  talents, 
amiability  and  virtue.  He  was  graduated  at  the  college  of  New 
Jersey  in  1840,  and  died  at  Clarens,  in  Fairfax  county,  Vir- 
ginia, the  7th  of  May,  1843.  He  was  at  the  time  a  teacher  of 
the  Greek  lan^ua^e  in  the  Fairfax  Institute.  His  disease  was 
a  galloping  consumption.  There  is  for  many  a  mournful  in- 
terest connected  with  his  somewhat  romantic  history  and  un- 
timely fate. 

Early  in  March  of  the  next  year,  Signor  Borsieri  had  the, 
pleasure  of  introducing  his  Princeton  friends  to  the  Count 
Confalonieri,  an  elderly  man,  a  fellow  prisoner  of  his,  who  had 
been  in  bonds  fifteen  years.  These  were  golden  opportunities 
to  the  two  Alexanders  of  learning  the  spoken  tongue  of 
Italy.  The  elder  brother's  33d  birthday  occurred  on  the  13th. 
Not  long  after  this  Mr.  Borsieri  made  a  profession  of  his  faith. 
I  think  Mr.  Alexander  gave  this  gentleman  lessons  in  English. 
He  certainly  played  this  part  to  several  foreigners,  receiving 
their  instructions  in  return. 

Soon  after  this,  Professor  James  Alexander  was  invited  to 
take  the  Presidency  of  Hanover  College  in  Indiana.  He  how- 
ever declined  the  honour. 

Mr.  Alexander,  on  the  26th,  was  in  torture  with  a  swollen 
face.  He  was  very  subject  to  this  affection,  which  he  styled 
a  "jaw-swell."  His  relief  on  such  occasions  was  an  odd  one. 
He  would  lecture  immoderately,  and  on  the  most  difficult  parts 
of  scripture.  He  used  to  say  this  was  the  only  way  he  knew 
of  diverting  his  mind  from  the  pain.     This  remark  is  strictly 


,Et.27.j  TEACHING    UNDER   DIFFICULTIES.  397 

applicable  rather  to  the  common  dull  tooth-ache  than  to  a 
violent  inflammation  of  the  cheek  and  jaw  such  as  this  was.  I 
have  seen  him  sitting  in  his  recitation-room  with  his  hand 
thrust  against  his  face,  and  swaying  to  and  fro  with  rapid 
movements  of  his  body,  but  pouring  out  his  usual  torrent  of 
exquisitely  chosen  words  and  fascinating  his  class  with  some 
of  his  most  remarkable  lucubrations.  Sometimes  he  would 
have  to  pause  a  moment  from  the  sheer  intensity  of  his  suffer- 
ings. 

The  synod  of  Philadelphia  convened  this  day.  The  great 
topic  of  interest  before  the  body  was  the  controversy  between 
the  Old  and  New  School  parties  in  the  church.  The  Rev.  W. 
L.  McCalla  made  an  attack  on  Princeton.  His  argument  was 
an.  able  one,  but  he  was  called  to  order  for  his  strong  language 
and  personal  allusions.  He  was,  however,  allowed  to  proceed 
with  his  invective,  or  rather  his  impassioned  remonstrance. 
The  theme  is  an  inviting  one,  but  the  days  of  this  heat  are 
now  over,  and  the  subject  of  this  memoir  took  no  active  part 
in  these  discussions.  Indeed,  I  have  no  positive  information 
as  to  what  his  precise  views  on  the  mooted  questions  were,  ex- 
cept that  he  was  a  staunch  old  school  man,  with  general  sym- 
pathies with  his  colleagues  at  Princeton.  Whether  he  went 
as  far  in  the  direction  of  moderate  views  as  some  of  these,  I 
do  not  know.  He  was  editor  of  the  Repertory  during  the  fla- 
grant outbreak  of  this  quarrel,  but  took  no  further  part  in  the 
engagement  than  to  print  the  articles  of  others,  and  occasion- 
ally to  launch  witty  sarcasms  at  the  men  who  in  his  opinion 
were  the  chief  troublers  of  Israel.  His  arguments  were  all 
of  a  purely  incidental  and  unpremeditated  character. 

Mr.  Alexander  about  this  time  undertook  the  teaching  of 
two  of  the  sons  of  Captain  Stockton,  U.  S.  N".  The  instruc- 
tion of  a  younger  member  of  the  captain's  family  occurred  at  a 
later  date.  These  gentlemen  now  speak  in  most  grateful 
terms  of  the  preceptor's  kindness  and  assiduity,  and  love  to 
tell  of  the  odd  humours  of  their  master  when  books  had  been 
laid  aside.  He  made  the  two  eldest  of  these  write  letters  to 
him  in  a  large  thick  folio  volume,  using  the  same  book  him- 


398  WRITING    LETTERS.  [1836. 

self  for  most  of  his  own  writing  between  times,  and  filling  it, 
or  inducing  them  to  fill  it  with  letters,  compositions,  poems, 
and  critical  comments.  Some  of  the  writings  in  these  big 
books  are  well  worthy  of  being  kept  carefully,  as  they  have 
been  by  their  owners. 

I  give  the  following  remarkable  letter  to  Mr.  Hall,  which 
sufficiently  explains  itself: 


p* 


?&*  m:m    ov 


a 


~£>  wm. 


<§fi& 


10 


O/LD  llli^ti 


"  Peixcetox,  January  13, 1837. 
"  My  Deab  Sib  : 

"  The  number  of  alphabets,  you  know,  bears  no  proportion  to  that  of 
languages;  and  among  those  of  which  I  have  a  smattering  the  variety 
of  character  is  by  no  means  great.  I  have  selected  the  word  "day" 
as  being  short  and  simple  in  all  the  languages  exemplified  above.  The 
horizontal  line  (1,  2,  3,  4.)  exhibits  a  four-fold  diversity  of  character 
in  the  languages  of  the  same  family  ;  and  it  so  happens  that  the  word 
which  I  have  chosen  is  precisely  the  same  (yoin  or  yum)  in  all  four. 
The  vertical  column  (1.  5,  6,  7,)  illustrates,  on  the  other  hand,  the  appli- 
cation of  one  alphabet  to  four  languages  of  different  stocks.  The 
Arabic  yam  (or  rather  yaum),  the  Persian  rdz,  the  Turkish  gun,  and 
the  Malay  harl  or  dr'i,  thoug'i  wholly  unlike  in  sound,  are  all  in  the 


Mi.  27.]  ALPHABETS.  399 

Arabic  character.  To  these  examples  I  have  added  the  Sanscrit  alian, 
the  Chinese  je,  and  the  Armenian  ahr,  all  likewise  meaning  day.  It 
is  a  fact  worth  noticing  that  the  Chinese  character  is  used  by  the  great- 
est number  of  men,  and  the  Arabic  over  the  largest  surface  ;  at  least  it 
is  so  said.  The  latter  is  employed  (with  additions  and  modifications  to 
express  peculiar  sounds)  not  only  by  the  Persians,  Turks,  and  Moham- 
medan Africans,  but  by  several  of  the  Indian  races.  The  Sanscrit  is 
thought  by  philologists  to  be,  on  the  whole,  the  most  perfect  form  of 
alphabetical  writing. 

"  I  have  two  books  begun  which  I  have  not  touched  for  a  year,  per- 
haps for  two.  The  one  is  a  series  of  dramatic  sketches  almost  entirely  in 
the  words  of  Scripture  explanations,  descriptions,  &c,  being  introduced 
as  stage- directions.  My  idea  was,  that  each  scene  should  be  accompanied 
by  a  picture.  The  scenes  are  of  course  detached,  and  the  only  object 
was  to  attract  attention  to  familiar  subjects  by  a  change  of  form.  "When 
I  broke  down  I  had  written  Scene  1.  A  well  near  the  city  of  Nahor, 
ten  camels  kneeling  by  the  well — two  men  sitting  near — Eliezer  by  him- 
self. Sc.  2. — Isaac's  encampment  near  Beersheba — Rebecca's  tent. 
Rebecca  and  Jacob  (the  deception  of  Isaac).  Sc.  3.  The  plains  of  Moab  ; 
Naomi,  Kuth,  Orpah,  in  mourning  garments.  Sc.  4.  The  wine-press 
of  Joash  the  Abiezrite,  in  a  retired  spot  surrounded  by  oaks — Gideon, 
the  son  of  Joash,  threshing  wheat— a  stranger  approaches  and  sits 
under  one  of  the  oaks.  Sc.  5.  The  priests1  chamber  near  the  Taberna- 
cle in  Shiloh,  containing  two  beds  on  which  Eli  the  High  Priest  and  Sam- 
uel, a  child,  are  lying — a  voice — "  Samuel !  Samuel !  "  &c,  &c. — Sc.  6. 
A  field  near  Ramah — Saul  and  a  servant  sitting  beneath  a  tree — Saul, 
"  Come,  let  us  return,  lest  my  father  leave  caring  for  the  asses,"  &c. 
Sc.  7.  A  field  near  Gibea — Jonathan  and  David — David,  "  What  have 
I  done  ?  what  is  my  iniquity  ?  "  &c. 

"My  other  book  was  a  conversation  on  King  David's  nephews,  in- 
tended to  show  how  many  not  uninteresting  facts  may  be  ovc  rlooked 
even  by  the  diligent  straight-forward  student,  unless  he  takes  the 
trouble  to  compare  scripture  with  scripture. 

"As  usual,  I  became  convinced  before  I  had  well  begun,  that  the 
plan  was  not  worth  carrying  out,  and  I  abandoned  it.  I-  am  not  wil- 
ling, however,  that  you  should  suppose  I  have  never  even  attempted 
anything.  Yours  truly, 

"Jos.  Addison  Alexander." 


The  next  letter  I  shall  give  is  also  addressed  to  Mr.  Hall. 


400  CORRESPONDENCE.  C1S36. 

In  it  he  refers  to  the  Asiatic  languages,  and  inquires  for  a 
cheap  American  set  of  the  Edinburgh  or  Quarterly  : 

"Princeton,  December  21,  1836. 
"  My  Dear  Sib  : 

"  My  friend  and  room-mate  Harrison  Howell,  who  brings  you  this, 
■will  take  charge  of  my  Lexicon  if  it  is  in  your  hands  or  if  you  will 
direct  him  to  the  binder.  I  am  sorry  to  trouble  you  with  these  small 
jobs,  and  by  way  of  proving  it  I  herewith  send  you  my  John  Bunyan 
to  be  dressed* — fine  but  very  plain.  I  feel  that  I  have  some  claim  on 
your  time,  in  consequence  of  my  prompt  attention  to  your  application 
made  last  summer  for  some  scraps  of  language.  Did  my  answer  mis- 
carry ?  or  is  it  printed?  Pray  lay  the  blame  on  Amos  Kendall  t  and  let 
me  know  what  I  must  do.  My  grammars  and  lexicons  are  at  your 
service,  especially  the  latter,  as  so  many  of  them  have  enjoyed  your 
protection.  Seriously  I  have  mislaid  your  letter  and  do  not  recollect 
precisely  what  you  want. 

"In  some  of  your  publications  or  perhaps  in  your  private  letters  you 
have  spoken  of  a  plau  devised  by  Trevelyan  and  others  for  reducing 
the  Asiatic  languages  to  the  Roman  orthography.  Have  you  the  details 
of  the  plan  in  any  form?  Again,  in  what  form  is  your  large  map  of 
Palestine  put  up,  and  what  is  the  price  thereof?  James  I  believe  on 
reflection  has  one ;  but  I  have  not  been  in  his  study  for  eighteen  months, 
as  I  live  in  Canal  Street  and  he  in  Mercer.  Once  more,  do  you  think 
that  in  any  of  the  second-hand  book  stores  it  would  be  possible  to  find 
anything  like  a  complete  set  of  the  Edinburgh  or  Quarterly  Review 
as  republished  in  America,  at  a  very  reduced  price?  James  thinks  such 
an  article  cannot  be  in  the  market;  but  nobody  knows  what  a  man 
may  sell  to  second-hand  dealers.  If  you  will  answer  these  inquiries  at 
your  leisure,  say  before  the  end  of  1837,  and  add  any  practical  or 
other  observations  upon  these  or  other  subjects  ;  not  forgetting  to  re- 
peat your  prescription  for  the  dose  of  unknown  tongues  without  delay 
— you  will  confer  a  favour  upon  Yours,  very  truly, 

"Mr.  Hall  J  "J.  Addison  Alexander." 

"E.S.S.J.J 

"  1.  If  the  binder  knows  of  my  existence,  and  will  trust  me,  please  to 
give  Harrison  his  address,  instead  of  troubling  yourself  about  old  Bun- 
yan. 

*  And  lettered  simply  "  Pilgrim's  Progress."  J.  A.  A. 

\  The  Hon.  Amos  Kendall,  who  was  Postmaster  General  under  Jackson. 


.<Et.27.j  SEEKING    BOOKS.  401 

"  2. 1  have  just  heard  that  my  lexicon  is  come,  and  feel  much  indebted 
to  you. 

"  3.  Mr.  John  P.  Brown,  our  diplomatic  dragoman  at  Constantinople, 
told  me  last  winter  that  reed  pens  or  reeds  for  making  oriental  pens 
could  be  procured  in  Philadelphia.  If  you  know  where  such  an  article 
is  venal,  I  should  like  to  have  it  priced  by  the  bearer. 

"  (Finis.)" 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

I  now  present  the  reader  with  some  graphic  reminiscences 
of  Mr.  Alexander  as  he  appeared  to  the  class  of  1837.  The 
writer  of  these  memoranda*  was  himself  a  member  of  the 
class,  though  not  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Alexander  ; 
and  in  the  admirable  sketches  which  follow  he  is  unable  to  con- 
ceal the  traces  of  his  own  native  humour  and  benevolence.  He 
begins  by  saying  that  he  does  not  belong  to  the  variety  of 
mankind  who  keep  journals  of  their  own  lives  and  times  ;  and 
therefore  owing  to  the  lapse  of  years,  has  now  "  rather  dissolv. 
ing  views  of  the  men  and  scenes  amidst  which  "  his  earlier  days 
were  spent.     He  now  wishes  for  some  such  record  : 

"  For  as  one  of  the  ancient  Greeks  thanked  the  gods  that  he  lived  in 
the  days  of  Pericles,  so  the  students  of  Princeton  who  lived  in  the  days 
of  Addison  Alexander  had  reason  also  to  he  thankful.  It  was  indeed  a 
privilege  to  be  trained  under  such  a  teacher;  and  the  consciousness  of 
that  distinction  does  not  diminish  as  time  adds  new  honours  to  his 
name.  The  period  of  my  acquaintance  witli  Professor  Alexander  was  the 
golden  age  of  the  Seminary.  The  venerable  men  who  gave  that  insti- 
tution such  an  elevated  rank  and  \  osition  were  then  at  its  head,  and  in 
the  prime  of  their  usefulness;  Dr.  A.  Alexander  and  Dr.  Miller  being 
the  senior  professors,  and  Dr.  Hodge  aud  J.  Addison  Alexander  the 
iunior  professors.  The  last  named  was  then  a  young  man  and  yet  had 
reached  the  full  meridian  of  his  fame  and  popularity.  lie  had  not 
only  a  high  standing  in  his  own  peculiar  department  of  Oriental  litera- 
ture, but  also  ranked  very  high  for  his  attainments  in  ancient  and  mod- 
ern languages.  He  was  considered  by  the  young  men  in  the  Seminary 
as  a  regular  prodigy — a  perfect  polyglot;  and  they  believed  he  was 
master  of  so  many  tongues  that  the  tower  of  Babel  need  never  have 

*  The  Rev.  David  Teese,  White  Plains,  N.  Y. 


iET.28.]  PERSONAL    APPEARANCE.  403 

suspended  operations  if  he.  had  only  lived  in  those  early  ages,  and  been 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  building.  *  We  had  great  pride  in  our 
Oriental  Professor.  He  was  an  oracle,  and  an  object  of  universal  ad- 
miration, to  the  enthusiastic  youth.  They  would  follow  his  judgment 
on  Jewish  literature  or  antiquities  in  preference  to  any  of  the  Rabbis 
either  ancient  or  modern.  We  venerated  the  fathers  of  the  institu- 
tion ;  but  with  the  natural  partiality  of  youth  we  attached  ourselves  to 
the  junior  Professor,  and  worshipped  him  as  the  rising  sun." 

The  young  Professor  was  one  of  those  rare  men  "who  rea- 
lize to  the  eye  of  the  beholder  one's  preconceptions  of  what  the 
bodily  presence  of  a  person  of  great  intellect  ought  lobe.  The 
description  Avhick  follows  of  his  personne  will  prove  attrac- 
tive, and  is  corroborated  by  innumerable  voices.  The  fresh- 
ness of  his  complexion,  and  bis  corpulent  fulness,  diminished 
gradually  as  be  grew  older,  and  had  entirely  left  him  before 
the  termination  of  his  last  sickness. 

"  As  the  visible  presence  of  great  men  is  always  a  matter  of 
curiosity  and  interest  to  the  reader,  I  may  offer  a  remark  on  that  sub- 
ject. At  the  time  now  spoken  of,  the  personal  appearance  of  the 
Professor  was  quite  interesting  and  attractive.  He  was,  as  we  said, 
in  the  dew  of  his  youth,  and  its  bloom  was  on  his  cheek.  A  remarka- 
ble high  and  polished  forehead  was  the  indication  of  his  massive  intel- 
lect; and  the  thin  covering  of  hair  was  (in  our  judgment)  the  indica- 
tion of  exhausting  mental  labor.  His  face,  however,  was  not  '  sicklied 
o'er  with  the  pale  cast  of  thought.'  By  no  means  ;  it  was  round  and 
plump ;  and  his  complexion  was  that  of  the  full-blown  red  rose.  His 
colour  would  come  and  go  very  easily,  and  he  used  to  blush  like  a  girl. 
It  was  a  fancy  with  our  class  that  in  form  and  features  he  Avas  an  exact 
fac-simile  of  Napoleon ;  and  that  there  never  Avas  so  perfect  a  resem- 
blance to  that  great  man  to  be  found  in  all  the  world.  Each  time  I 
looked  in  his  face  I  thought  of  '  The  great  Captain.'  " 

The   likeness  to  Napoleon  Avas  very  commonly  noticed. 

*  Byron  said  that  Mezzofanti  ought  to  have  been  interpreter  at  the  Tower 
of  Babel.  The  idea  seems  to  have  been  borrowed  from  Pope.  See  also  Prince- 
ton Rep.  on  King  James's  Bible. 


404  SOCIAL    INTERCOURSE.  11837. 

It  was  not  a  close  similarity  of  features ;  Mr.  Alexander's 
head  and  body  were  much  broader  than  Napoleon's.  It 
was  his  full  person,  his  impressive  front,  the  regularity  of  his 
countenance,  the  impetuous  brevity  of  his  speech,  and  the 
look  of  power  in  his  face,  which  reminded  so  many  people  of 
the  great  Frenchman.  In  shape  and  size  Mr.  Alexander's 
head  bore  a  wonderfully  striking  resemblance  to  the  cast  of 
Count  Cavour's.  His  face  and  bust  were  not  unlike  the  pic- 
ture of  Swift  in  one  of  the  old  Penny  Magazines.  His  head 
was  a  grand  one  ;  that  would  have  befitted  Jupiter  Tonans. 

The  same  writer  touches  delicately  upon  the  subject  of  his 
gifted  teacher's  shyness  and  humble  opinion  of  his  own  pow- 
ers. He  was  observed  to  avoid  what  the  world  calls  com- 
pany : 

':  He  had  a  girlish  modesty  and  diffidence  at  this  period  of  his  life 
which  prevented  him  from  going  into  society,  or  enjoying  much  pleas- 
ure in  social  intercourse.  Many  remarkable  traditions  were  current 
among  the  students  in  regard  to  the  difficulties  and  embarrassments 
which  he  met  with  in  his  necessary  intercourse  with  men." 

This,  Mr.  Teese  thinks,  might  have  proved  in  his  case  a 
bar  to  the  most  extensive  usefulness  as  a  pastor,  and  concludes 
that  his  preceptor  was  more  adapted  to  a  chair  such  as  the  one 
he  then  occupied,  than  to  the  charge  of  a  promiscuous  congre- 
gation. This  opinion  is  given  for  what  it  is  worth,  and  with- 
out comment.  It  is  light  to  say,  however,  that  Mr.  Alexan- 
der's aversion  from  society,  and  lack  of  enjoyment  when  in 
company,  were  often  much  exaggerated ;  as  was  also  his  sup- 
posed inability  under  such  circumstances  to  take  his  j>art  in 
general  conversation.  He  was  sometimes,  though  rarely, 
a  fascinating  member  of  such  promiscuous  circles.  There  is 
evidence  of  this  fact  in  the  statements  of  several  witnesses 
which  are  contained  in  this  volume. 

The  class  of  '37  was  pushed  forward  with  the  greatest 
vigour.  The  evidence  of  the  Professor's  diligence  was  unim- 
peachable.    He  laboured  Avith  a  will  and   with  a  quenchless 


J3t.  28.]  HIGH    PRESSURE    TEACHING.  405 

enthusiasm.  The  poor  fellows  were  almost  exhausted,  and 
some  of  them  completely  overwhelmed,  in  the  effort  to  keep 
up  with  him.  The  class  was  divided  into  two  sections; 
each  section  recited  two  lessons  a  day,  and  each  lesson  occu- 
pied an  hour.  Says  the  good-natured  writer  to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  these  particulars : 

"You  may  be  sure  that  neither  the  Professor  nor  the  students  had 
much  time  either  to  eat  or  sleep.  For  myself,  I  was  as  busy  as  a  nailer ; 
and  to  keep  up  with  the  demands  of  the  teacher,  and  attain  enough 
Hebrew  to  pass  the  Presbytery,  I  had  to  rise  up  early  and  sit  up  late 
and  eat  the  bread  of  sorrows.  To  speak  the  plain  truth,  we  did  think 
the  Professor  was  a  little  exacting;  and  that  our  condition  was  not 
much  better  than  that  of  Israel  in  Egypt  under  the  old  task-masters. 
Our  progress  up  the  hill  of  science  was  like  the  upward  progress  of  the 
unhappy  Sisyphus — 'with  many  a  weary  step  and  many  a  groan.' 
To  our  class,  at  this  time,  the  ardent  Professor  devoted  six  hours  each 
day,  of  arduous  toil ;  and  after  we  had  passed  our  three  years  under 
bis  faithful  eye,  we  thought  we  had  learned  enough  of  oriental  litera- 
ture to  teach  Hebrew  anywhere,  except,  perhaps,  in  a  German  Uni- 
versity. So  severe  was  the  labour  that  several  of  our  class  succumbed 
under  the  effort,  and  gave  up  their  attendance  on  the  class  lec- 
tures; and  to  those  that  continued  faithful  and  hopeful  to  the  end, 
there  remained  days  of  weary  toil  and  nights  of  arduous  study.  The 
school-boys  in  the  '  Deserted  Village '  had  learned  to  trace  the  day's 
disaster  in  their  master's  face  ;  but  we  often  had  a  premonition  of  our 
trouble  before  we  saw  his  face.  For  as  one  division  of  our  class  came 
out,  the  other  went  into  the  class  room  ;  and  mingled  thus  together  we 
were  admonished  by  those  before  us  of  danger  ahead,  in  some  such 
words  as  these,  '  0  you'll  catch  it  to-day  !  '  '  0  'tis  'dreadful !  '  and 
similar  encouraging  expressions  indicating  what  we  might  expect." 

Few  teachers  would  have  dared  to  attempt,  and  fewer  still 
would  have  persevered  in  the  attempt,  to  force  onward  a  body 
of  young  scholars  in  this  way,  against  their  own  inclinations 
and  convictions;  and  fewest  of  all  would  have  finally  achieved 
the  end  desired.  It  was  the  privilege  of  Mr.  Alexander  to 
succeed  in  everything  he  S2t  his  heart  on  accomplishing.  He 
knew  quite  accurately,  or  soon  found  out,  the  limits  of  his  own 


406  HARD    STUDY.  [1837. 

capacity ;  and  would  not  continue  long  in  a  course  in  -which  he 
did  not  feel  sure  of  success.  He  had  the  knack  of  ascertain- 
ing also  precisely  what  his  pupils  could  do  ;  and  he  had  the 
art  or  the  power  of  making  them  do  it. 

"  It  is  but  proper  to  say,  however,  that  we  were  greatly  encouraged 
by  our  progress  under  the  Professor's  admirable  training;  and  by  the 
knowledge  that  it  was  all  for  our  own  good  that  our  present  condition 
was  not  joyous  but  rather  grievous.  The  enthusiasm  of  the  teacher 
imparted  itself  to  the  students ;  and  under  every  green  tree,  in  the  well- 
beaten  garden  walks,  in  the  adjacent  woods,  as  well  as  in  the  Seminary, 
in  the  study,  and  in  the  class-room,  young  men  were  seen  walking, 
or  lying  down,  or  sitting  ;  with  their  limbs  stretched  out  on  the  grass,  or 
over  the  mantel-piece,  or  on  the  backs  of  chairs ;  all  intent  on  the  pe- 
rusal of  one  book — 'Bush's  Hebrew  Grammar.'  Memory  loves  to 
linger  round  those  days  of  youth,  gone  never  to  return  ;  and  upon  the 
pleasant  employments  and  associations  with  which  they  were  con- 
nected. Of  all  the  great  names  we  there  venerated,  not  one  now  re- 
mains, except  as  an  object  of  memory  to  which  each  passing  year  adds 
new  lustre ;  for  the  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed." 

This  whimsical,  while  yet  genial  and  delightful  picture, 
might  be  repeated  again  and  again  and  accepted  as  true 
for  every  one  of  the  succeeding  years,  were  it  not  that 
as  the  years  multiplied,  the  Professor  became  year  by  year 
more  and  more  gentle  and  easy  to  be  entreated,  and  more 
and  more  reasonable  in  his  demands  upon  his  students' 
time  and  brains.  When  he  became  a  teacher  of  Church  His- 
tory, he  had  grown  so  wise  in  all  these  practical  matters  that 
a  person  more  easy  to  be  satisfied  with  a  creditable  recitation 
could  not  be  found.  He  never  was  able  altogether  to  suppress 
his  contempt  for  Boeotian  ignorance,  or  utter  stupidity,  or  for 
the  pert  conceit  often  attendant  upon  laziness,  -which  will 
sometimes  elude  all  vigilance  and  find  their  way  even  into  the 
Halls  of  sacred  learning.  Then  his  eye  would  flash,  and  his  face 
glance  fire.  He  would  sharply  reprove,  or  else  would  terribly 
confound  with  one  of  his  annihilating  sarcasms,  which  demon- 
strated at  the  same  time  the  folly  of  pupil  and  the  genius  and 
authoritv  of  the  master. 


Mi.  28.]  STOLID    STUDENTS.  407 

It  however  took  a  great  deal  to  move  him  in  those  days.  He 
was  silent  in  presence  of  some  of  the  most  gi-ievous  exhibitions. 
In  reply  to  the  question,  "  What  barbarous  tribes  invaded  Eu- 
rope at  the  close  of  the  fifth  century,"  a  poor  fellow  who  had 
stood  the  hot  fire  of  Mr.  Alexander's  cross-examination  with- 
out blenching  or  even  so  much  as  uttering  a  word,  suddenly 
exclaimed,  apparently  very  much  to  his  own  relief,  "  the  Bar- 
barians !  "  The  Professor,  who  sat  writhing  under  this  rejoin- 
der, showed  in  his  face  the  traces  of  an  inward  conflict  between 
mirth  and  anger ;  but  merely  said  in  a  tone  of  contemptuous 
commiseration,  "  That'll  do,  sir  !  The  next !  "  The  stolidity  of 
this  man  was  almost  incredible.  On  another  occasion  the  Pro- 
fessor asked  him,  "  What  change  took  place  in  the  orders  of 
the  clergy  at  such  and  such  a  period  ?  "  referring  to  the  intro- 
duction of  metropolitans.  The  response  was  startling,  "  They 
were  reduced  to  the  same  footing  with  the  laity,  sir !  "  This  of 
course  produced  an  explosion  of  laughter  among  the  lookers- 
on  ;  but  the  Professor  contented  himself  with  saying,  "  Oh,  no  !" 
in  a  tone  of  utter  disgust,  and  permitted  the  unfortunate  blun- 
derer to  take  his  seat. 

Early  April  was  full  of  the  usual  vernal  promise.  The  as- 
pen at  Dr.  Alexander's  Seminary-gate  Avas  in  blossom,  and  the 
fields  were  beginning  to  change  their  winter  raiment.  Mr. 
Alexander  was  writing  "  Words  of  a  Scribe,"  "  Nails  by  the 
Masters  of  Assemblies,"  &c,  in  the  Sunday  School  Journal.  The 
Presbytery  at  Bound  Brook  appointed  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
and  Mr.  Yeomans  their  clerical  commissioners  to  the  Assem- 
bly. The  Hebrew  Professor  was  not  yet  a  licensed  minister, 
and  not  yet  editor  of  the  Repertory ;  and  of  course  performed 
no  public  acts  in  this  stage  of  the  difficulties.  The  weather 
continued  exceedingly  lovely,  and  the  temperature  gradually 
rose  to  a  point  of  oppressive  heat. 

On  the  30th,  which  was  Sunday,  I  find  that  Mr.  Alexander 
was  lying  sick.  He  had  suffered  from  a  high  fever  in  the 
night,  with  delirium  and  severe  pains  in  the  head.  Dr.  For- 
man  cupped  him  in  the  morning  and  afterwards  bled  him 
pretty  freely.     Whether  from  this  cause  or  not,  he  swooned  ; 


408  ASSEMBLY   OF    1837.  n&37. 

but  soon  began  to  exhibit  symptoms  of  amendment.  On  May 
day  he  was  better,  though  still  gravely  diseased,  and  after  a 
bad  night  showed  marked  improvement. 

Dr.  Sprague  *  dismissed  the  students  with  a  striking  ad- 
dress on  Ecclesiastical  Ambition.  If  I  were  to  continue  this 
minute  diary  of  Princeton  matters,  I  should  lay  myself  open  to 
the  charge  of  writing  the  memoirs  not  of  one  man,  but  of  many. 
I  shall,  however,  from  time  to  time  fill  gaps  in  the  narrative 
in  this  way.  In  general  it  will  be  sufficient  to  mention  only 
those  incidents  which  have  a  direct  bearing  on  the  life  of  Mr. 
Alexander.  The  great  Assembly  of  1837  of  course  occupied 
all  eyes,  but  its  events  need  not  be  touched  upon  here.  Mr. 
Alexander  was  not  called  upon  to  take  sides  one  way  or  the 
other  until  the  division  occurred,  at  which  time  he  went  heart 
and  hand  with  the  Old  School.  As  soon  as  he  was  ahle,  the 
enfeebled  scholar  took  a  jaunt  as  far  as  Baltimore,  and  returned 
about  the  20th,  somewhat  recruited.  He  spent  the  night 
with  his  brother,  and  the  two  chatted  over  the  scenes  of 
travel. 

The  northerly  winds  of  the  next  day  prepared  the  heavens 
for  a  clear  sunset.  Fires  were  cheerful,  and  news  came  of  the 
Old  School  majority.  The  foliage  was  exuberant  before  the 
Spring  went  out,  and  by  the  31st,  Summer  was  fairly  en- 
throned in  the  latitude  of  Princeton.  It  appears  that  Mr. 
Alexander  was  again  absent  from  home  ;  and  he  must  have 
gone  somewhere  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Assembly, 
probably  to  Philadelphia,  for  on  June  8,  Thursday,  his  brother 
records  in  his  journal : 

*  The  Rev.  William  B.  Sprague,  D.  D.,  of  Albany,  writes  that  he  remembers  Mr. 
Alexander  as  quite  a  small  boy,  when  he  himself  was  in  the  Seminary,  in  1816  ; 
but  he  knew  nothing  of  his  remarkable  powers  till  after  Mr.  Alexander  had 
passed  through  college.  "  Dr.  Addison  Alexander"  he  continues,  "  was  a  man 
of  so  much  mark,  and  in  some  respects  stood  perhaps  so  entirely  alone,  that  it 
was  hardly  possible  to  move  in  any  intellectual  circle  without  having  a  definite 
idea  of  him.  So  often  as  I  met  with  a  Princeton  student  during  the  pe- 
riod of  his  Professorship,  I  was  sure  to  hear  the  highest  possible  testimony  ren- 
dered to  his  great  talents  and  learning,  and  to  his  almost  matchless  facility  at 
communicating  knowledge." 


,Et.28.]  A   LATIN   TENSE.  409 

"  Addison  writes  to  me  every  day.  His  letters  keeps  me  informed 
of  Assembly  mutters.  It  is  expected  that  the  New-School  men  will 
go  ti)  law.  Some  say  sooner  or  later  there  must  be  a  new  Church,  and 
f'at  it  will  be  called  the  American  Presbyterian  Church.  "What  will 
ours  be  called?  Whatever  may  result,  our  descendants  will  look  back 
on  the  doings  of  the  Assembly  of  1837  as  among  the  most  momentous 
in  our  history." 

A  wonderful  revival  was  going  on  at  New  Brunswick. 
Nearly  seventy  souls  were  indulging  a  good  hope  through 
grace  of  eternal  life.  Among  the  preachers  were  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Abeel,  Jones,  and  the  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander.  The 
work  soon  spread  to  Metuchen.  In  June,  the  Presbytery  met 
at  New  Brunswick  to  take  measures  to  extend  the  benefits  of 
the  awakening  to  other  churches.  The  deep  feeling  continued 
for  many  weeks. 

On  the  24th  of  July  Mr.  Alexander  writes  amusingly  to 
Mr.  Hall,  for  Sir  Thomas  Browne,  and  makes  fun  of  one  of 
the  Latin  tenses. 

Pbisceton,  July  24,  1837. 
"MyDeaeSib: 

"  As  I  write  in  a  hurry,  I  cannot  do  justice  to  your  valuable  letter, 
but  must  rush  at  once  in  medlas  res.  If  it  is  the  new  English  edition 
of  Sir  Th.  Browne  that  Whitham  has,  you  would  ohlige  me  much  by 
securing  it  for  me.  I  am  a  little  puzzled  by  your  nse  of  the  praeterper- 
fectum,  when  you  say,  *'  I  have  seen  a  copy  of  Lamartine."  If  this  be 
not  a  me.lancholy  reminiscence  of  some  former  vision  gone  forever,  but 
a  statement  of  what  is  still  visible,  I  should  be  very  glad  to  get,  not 
the  poems,  but  the  travels. 

"Yours  sincerely, 

"J.  A.  Alexandee.'' 

The  next  letter  contains  a  comical  allusion  to  the  Infant 
Library.  The  old  manuscript  was,  like  enough,  something  new 
and  humorous. 

Peinoeton,  August  8,  1837 
"HyDeae  Sib: 

"  I  hope  this  will  find  you  in  recovered  health.     If  any  of  the  infinir 
tesimal  books  are  missing,  they  shall  be  forthcoming.     I  have  just  laid 
18 


410  PICTURE    OF    PRINCETON".  [1837. 

my  hands  upon  an  ancient  M?.,  a  fragment  which  I  enclos3  without 
reading  it  over.  If,  by  any  process,  you  can  render  it  available,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  as  material  for  your  invaluable  labours,  no  one  will  be 
more  pleased  or  surprised  than.  Sir, 

"Yours  most,  &c, 

"J.  A.  Alexander." 

The  study  fires  were  resumed  in  September ;  and  the  antici- 
pations of  Professor  James  Alexander  were  realized,  when 

"  The  crackling  billets,  flaming  high 
Shall  send  a  gleam  to  every  eye 
Of  happy  inmates  round  the  hearth, 
Full  of  warm  friendship  and  pure  mirth. 
Here  let  the  hoary  grandsire  bask 
And  grandame  ply  the  worsted  task, 
And  hardy  urchin  frame  his  snare 
And  chubby  girl  her  sports  prepare, 
"While  John  with  school-boy  tone  rehearse 
The  newest  book  in  prose  and  verse."  * 

With  the  exception  of  the  proper  name,  this  is  a  true  pic- 
ture of  one  of  the  homes  in  Princeton.  There  were  almost 
always  young  pupils  in  the  house,  and  the  daughters  of  friends 
or  cousins  often  came  in  from  abroad.  These  were  happy  days, 
days  of  sunshine  and  intellectual  and  religious  improvement. 
The  aerugo  animi  was  unknown,  and  the  hours  flew  like  a 
shuttle. 

The  winter  session  of  the  college  began  on  the  ninth  of 
November.  There  was  a  clerical  meeting  that  day  at  Dr.  Mil- 
ler's. The  topic  before  the  Association  was  certain  questions 
relating  to  the  status  of  the  coloured  people. 

This  year  Professor  James  Alexander  brought  out  the  es. 
says  of  Charles  Quill,  which  had  a  great  run  for  a  while.  They 
were  afterwards  reprinted  with  the  title  of  "  The  American  Me- 
chanic," and  still  later  incorporated  with  a  newr  series,  under 

*  From  an  imaginative  sketch  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Alexander,  which  was  first 
printed  in  the  Newark  Daily  Advertiser. 


jEt.28.]  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    PAPERS.  411 

the  style,  "  The  American  Mechanic  and  Working-Man."  The 
author  once  told  me  that  he  knew  most  persons  would  set  a 
higher  value  on  his  life  of  his  father,  but  that  he  himself  con- 
sidered these  essays  the  best  thing  he  had  ever  done ;  though 
at  that  but  a  small  contribution  to  our  Presbyterian  literature. 
The  essays  are  terse  and  sprightly,  and  very  instructive  ;  with 
a  fine  flavour  of  the  Bible  and  of  the  Latin  and  English 
classics. 

The  letter  which  is  subjoined,  asks  an  important  question 
in  the  interests  of  the  Repertory  : 

"Princeton,  December  1,  1837^ 
"My  Dear  Sir: 

"  I  write  in  haste,  at  the  request  of  Dr.  Hodge,  to  heg  your  aid  in  an 
important  matter.  As  you  are  in  the  habit  of  reading  many  journals, 
can  you  state,  for  the  benefit  of  an  "  Association  of  Gentlemen," 
whether  the  doctrine  of  the  Oxford  Tracts,  the  new  form  of  Church  of 
Englandism,  has  been  distinctly  endorsed  or  adopted  by  any  of  the 
Episcopal  papers  in  this  country.  If  you  could  refer  to  documents  and 
vouchers,  tant  mieux  ;  but  even  your  ipse-dixit  will  be  worth  a  great 
deal.  Dr.  H.  is  also  anxious  to  obtain  a  sermon  on  Tradition,  by 
Henry  M.  Mason.  Perhaps  you  could  procure  it  for  him.  I  hope  to 
let  you  hear  from  me  soon  in  a  less  troublesome  manner. 
"  "With  the  highest  consideration,  &c,  &c, 

"Jos.  Addison  Alexander." 


"  My  Dear  Sir  : 

"  I  observe  that  my  last  contributions  to  the  Journal  were  clothed 
in  an  editorial  dress.  This  is  more  agreeable  to  my  taste  as  well  as 
flattering  to  my  vanity.  My  only  misgiving  is,  that  many  of  the  scraps 
I  send  you  are  repeated  sometimes  in  my  lectures  to  the  students,  and 
might  perhaps  be  recognized,  if  rendered  too  conspicuous.  I  begin 
however  to  be  sick  of  series;  and  to  think  that  even  scraps  lose  much 
of  their  intrinsic  value  by  conglomeration.  I  send  you  a  few  para- 
graphs from  a  work  of  Baxter,  which  is  very  little  read.  I  have  no 
objection  to  your  making  any  of  them  '  leaders,'  if  you  wish. 

"Mr.  "Whiting  of  Jerusalem  writes  to  my  father,  that  a  number  of 
American  and  English  people  are  now  in  the  Holy  Land,  waiting  for 
the  Second  Advent ;  having  been  much  encouraged  by  the  earthquake 
of  the  first  of  January, 


412  LETTERS    TO    A    PUPIL.  [183T. 

"Do  you  suppose  it  possible  to  get  any  Portuguese  books  in  Phila- 
delphia? I  should  like  very  much  to  obtain  a  Grammar,  Dictionary, 
and  Lusiad.  Yours, 

"J.  A.  A." 

A  few  letters  to  one  of  his  little  pupils  are  now  given  to 
show  how  pleasant  he  was  in  his  relations  to  them.  The  po- 
liteness of  these  communications  is  remarkable.  It  was  not 
his  nature  to  be  intentionally  rude.  He  was  gracious  and 
courteous  to  the  smallest  child.  Sometimes  indeed,  like  most 
other  schoolmasters,  he  spoke  short  to  them,  but  he  did  it  for 
their  good. 

The  first  of  these  letters  from  which  I  take  extracts  is  dated 
October  28.  In  it  he  says,  in  allusion  to  a  playful  discussion 
they  had  together  as  to  comparative  merits  of  the  two  great 
cities : 

"  October  28,  1837. 
"  Dear  J.  : 

"  I  shall  not  try  to  defend  poor  New  York  any  longer,  but  allow  you 
to  prefer  Philadelphia  henceforth  and  forever.  You  know,  indeed,  a  lit- 
tle more  about  New  York  than  I  do  ;  as  I  never  visited  the  theatre,  and 
hope  I  never  shall.  You  forgot  to  mention  which  of  the  Museums  you 
had  seen ;  and  I  am  quite  surprised  that  you  say  nothing  about  Broad- 
way, the  Battery,  or  the  City  Hall.  Perhaps  you  do  not  look  upon  the 
fine  bay  as  belonging  to  the  city;  or  you  would  hardly  have  omitted  to 
express  your  admiration  of  that  splendid  sheet  of  water,  which  is  said 
to  be  unrivalled  in  the  world  for  beauty  except  by  the  Bay  of  Naples. 

"  Yours  affectionately, 

"  J.  A.  Alexander." 

"  If  you  find  any  difficulty  in  reading  my  letter,  please  to  let  me 

know,  and  I  will  try  to  write  a  little  better." 

The  next  is  an  essay  on  the  secret  of  true  happiness,  and 
though  written  for  a  boy,  is  richly  worthy  of  perusal  at  the 
hands  of  grown  up  men  and  women. 

"December  19, 1837. 

"  Dear  J.: 

"  Your  question  is  an  interesting  and  important  one.  I  must  first  tell 
you  what  does  not  constitute  the  happiness  of  man.     I  suppose  you 


^!t.28.]  TRUE   HAPPINESS.  413 

know  by  your  own  experience  that  peevishness,  and  ill-humour,  and 
angry  passions  do  not  constitute  happiness.  You  must  know  too,  that 
eating,  drinking,  or  riding  cannot  make  you  happy;  you  would  not  be 
"willing  to  eat,  drink,  play,  or  ride  forever.  I  need  not  tell  you  tliat 
sleep  and  idleness  would  not  make  you  happy.  And  do  you  think  that 
money  ever  made  a  person  happy  ?  Some  of  the  most  miserable 
wretches  in  the  world  have  been  immensely  rich.  Perhaps  you  think 
that  finery,  fashion,  and  pleasure  constitute  the  happiness  of  man.  If 
you  ever  live  to  make  the  experiment  (I  pray  that  you  may  never  make 
it)  you  will  find  to  your  sorrow  that  you  were  mistaken  ;  and  that  none 
are  more  miserable  in  their  hearts  than  some  who  seem  most  gay  to 
others.  The  longer  you  live  too,  the  more  you  will  be  convinced  that 
people  can  be  happy  who  have  neither  health,  nor  wealth,  nor  learning, 
nor  amusements,  nor  distinctions.  "What  makes  these  people  happy  ?  The 
only  thing  that  can  make  you  happy,  even  in  the  midst  of  all  these 
pleasures  in  the  world.  I  mean  the  favour  of  God.  This,  and  nothing 
but  this,  constitutes  the  happiness  of  man.  You  may  think  it  very  far 
from  pleasant  to  spend  all  your  life  in  serving  God ;  but  if  you  think  so, 
it  is  because  you  never  tried  it.  A  person  born  blind  cannot  under- 
stand how  people  should  take  pleasure  in  seeing  sights;  but  if  his  eyes 
could  be  opened,  he  would  understand  it  at  once.  That  your  eyes  may 
be  opened,  my  dear  boy,  to  see  and  know  what  constitutes  the  happi- 
ness of  man,  is  the  desire  and  prayer  of  your  affectionate  friend, 

"Jos.  Addison  Alexander." 

The  next  is  very  kind  and  edifying : 

"  My  Dear  Boy  : 

"I  have  no  right  to  scold  you  for  doing  what  I  do  myself.  I  was 
about  to  begin  my  letter  by  finding  fault  with  you  for  hastily  writ- 
ing '  I  will  try, '  before  '  Dear  Sir  ' ;  but  you  see  I  have  forgotten  both 
the  date  and  title.  From  this  little  circumstance  we  both  may  learn 
not  to  be  too  forward  in  condemning  others,  when  we  ourselves  may  he 
equally  to  blame.  Much  less,  when  we  are  more  to  blame.  This  is  to 
quarrel  with  the  mote  in  our  brother's  eye,  when  there  is  a  beam  in 
our  own.  'Judge  not  that  ye  be  not  judged.'  The  question  you  pro- 
pose gives  me  great  pleasure.  I  trust  you  ask  it  not  for  form's  sake 
merely,  but  because  you  really  desire  to  know.  The  answer  to  it  you 
must  learn  from  the  Bible;  and  I  hope  you  will  have  grace  to  under- 
stand it  rightly.  Do  you  not  know  that  you  were  born  a  sinner  ?  That 
you  need  to  be  pardoned  and  cleansed,  in  order  to  be  happy  ?    You 


414  ISAIAH    BEGUN.  [1837. 

must  feel  this  to  be  so ;  and  you  can  never  get  what  you  thus  need,  but 
by  God's  favour.  If  you  are  pardoned  and  made  holy  and  received  into 
heaven,  it  will  not  be  because  you  deserve  it,  or  because  you  are  so 
good ;  for  by  nature  you  are  vile.  It  is  a  mere  favour  given  to  you  by 
God,  for  the  Saviour's  sake  ;  and  if  you  are  not  willing  to  receive  it  as 
a  favour  you  cannot  receive  it  at  all.  Let  the  next  question  be — '  Why 
did  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  live  and  die  upon  the  earth  V  Your  last  let- 
ter upon  the  whole,  is  as  well  written  as  the  one  before  it ;  but  I  do  not 
think  it  any  better.     Try  to  improve. 

"I  subscribe  myself  your  faithful  friend, 

"J.  A.  Alexander." 

We  now  approach  an  epoch  in  the  life  of  this  quiet  stu- 
dent. This  was  no  less  an  event  than  the  commencement  of  his 
magnum  opus,  at  least  if  i-egard  be  had  to  its  size,  its  fame,  and 
its  visible  display  of  exact  critical  scholarship  and  almost  in- 
calculable stores  of  erudition.  It  was  this  book  that  crave  him  a 
name  among  the  literati  of  Europe  as  well  as  America.  At  home 
it  was  spoken  of  everywhere.  The  world  of  letters  rang  with  it 
This  never  deprived  the  author  of  his  masculine  intrepidity  of 
judgment,  or  one  whit  altered  his  serene  modesty.  He  began 
the  first  actual  writing  upon  his  commentary  on  Isaiah  on 
the  21st  of  June,  1836  ;  as  appears  from  the  following  extract 
from  his  day-book :  "  I  began  my  notes  on  Isaiah  and  wrote 
on  the  first  ten  verses  of  chapter  xlix."  He  commenced  at  this 
point  because  he  had  arrived  at  this  place  in  the  regular  in- 
structions to  his  class. 

Even  under  the  pressure  of  his  gigantic  exegetical  la- 
bours he  could  not  put  aside  the  disposition  to  learn  new  lan- 
guages. During  this  year  he  acquired  the  Polish ;  having  an 
educated  native  as  his  instructor.  It  was  always  his  custom 
to  obtain  what  living  guidance  he  could  in  his  linguistic  efforts. 
His  principal  studies  during  this  year  were  connected  with  his 
commentary  on  Isaiah.  Besides  attending  upon  his  regular 
classes  in  the  Seminary,  he  was  also  engaged  in  instructing 
private  classes  in  Arabic  and  Hebrew.  These  private  classes 
were  a  great  delight  and  refreshment  to  him.  The  men  who 
composed  them  were  never  forgotten,  and  were  some  of  them 


iEx.8&i  THE    DOOMED    MAN.  415 

always  greatly  admired.  One  or  two  of  them  became  profes- 
*sors  and  commentators  themselves.  Others,  following  just  as 
strictly  in  the  path  marked  out  for  them  by  the  footsteps  of 
their  teacher,  became  themselves  teachers  of  Hebrew  and  Ori- 
ental literature.  This  indirect  influence  of  Mr.  Alexander  in 
moulding  and  giving  purpose  to  the  best  minds  in  his  various 
classes,  can  never  be  estimated. 

His  journals  at  this  point  consist  chiefly  of  rough  notes  on 
Isaiah.  He  continued  his  Commentary,  the  study  of  the  Polish  ; 
Malay  and  Chinese  languages ;  and  besides  hearing  the  recita- 
tations  of  his  private  classes  in  Arabic,  he  gave  instruction  to 
several  boys,  whose  habit  it  was  to  frequent  his  study,  and 
after  school  hours  to  laugh  and  wonder  at  his  stories.  The  mul- 
titude, difficulty,  complexity  and  total  mass  of  his  studies  at 
this  period,  will  never  cease  to  excite  a  surprise  that  borders 
upon  unbelief.  Nothing  could  be  more  utterly  astonishing^ 
unless  it  were  the  gaiety,  the  ease,  the  smiling  unconsciousness 
of  hardship  with  which  the  whole  was  accomplished. 

He  wrote  some  verses  and  sent  them  off  this  year  to  the 
Sunday  School  Journal,  then  edited  by  his  friend  Mr.  Hall, 
which  have  since  become  widely  and  justly  celebrated.  They 
were  the  famous  lines  on  the  "  Doomed  Man."  He  wrote  them 
very  rapidily  (one  night,  I  think),  put  them  in  the  post-box, 
and  thought  no  more  of  them  ;  indeed  almost  forgot  them.  He 
was  afterwards  inundated  with  letters  asking  for  copies ; 
making  pertinent  and  impertinent  inquiries  ;  and  crammed  with 
undisguised  compliments.  One  of  these  letters  I  once  heard 
read  aloud,  and  it  was  truly  preposterous.  The  thing  came  to 
such  a  pass  at  length,  that  the  distressed  author  one  day  re- 
marked he  had  begun  to  think  he  was  himself  the  doomed 
man.  The  stanzas  which  were  so  much  admired,  have  been 
thought  to  be  awfully  solemn  and  impressive  ;  and  are  certainly 
written  with  a  terrible  energy  of  diction. 

The  Saxon  brevity  of  the  words;  and  the  terse  antithetical 
point  that  is  reached  by  the  conception  and  arrangement  of 
the  successive  clauses ;  and  the  wild,  dirge-like  cadence  of  the 
rhythm;   it  would  no  doubt  be  hard  to  equal.     The  lines  had 


416  WHEN    WRITTEN.  [1837. 

a  great  run.  The  papers  got  hold  of  them,  and  they  have 
been  circulating  ever  since.  Many  preachers  have  recited 
thein  at  the  close  of  sermons,  and  often  with  visible  effect. 
They  are  included  in  at  least  one  collection  of  hymns,  a  large 
volume  put  forth  by  the  Baptists ;  and  it  is  believed  have  been 
the  means  of  awakening  many  souls.  They  have  sometimes 
been  attributed  to  Dr.  James  W.  Alexander.  They  have  often 
been  reproduced  in  a  mutilated  form.  Some  time  after  their 
original  appearance  in  the  Sunday  School  Journal,  they  were 
handsomely  reprinted  on  large  square  sheets  of  paper  with 
broad  margins.  Dr.  Rice,  of  Mobile,  is  my  voucher  for  the 
averment  that  this  was  done  by  the  New  York  minister. 
They  were  certainly  reprinted  by  him  in  his  little  volume  enti- 
tled Revival  Tracts,  in  which  he  says  erroneously  that  this  was 
the  first  time  they  had  been  published  with  the  author's 
consent.  Dr.  Rice,  however,  speaks  of  a  conversation 
he  had  with  the  elder  brother  in  New  York,  when  the 
latter  lived  in  "White  street,  at  the  time  of  the  appearance 
of  the  sheets  before  spoken  of,  in  which  the  cit}r  clergyman 
told  him  that  he  had  taken  the  verses  from  a  drawer  in  his 
brother's  table  and  had  them  struck  off  without  the  author's 
knowledge  or  express  approval ;  and  the  Mobile  editor 
points  to  a  passage  in  the  Familiar  Letters  of  Dr.  James  Alex- 
ander, where  the  writer  says  that  if  Dr.  Hall  had  not  asserted 
and  proved  the  fact  of  an  earlier  publication,  viz.,  in  the  S.  S. 
Journal,  he  could  not  have  been  easily  persuaded  that  the  lines 
had  not  had  a  quite  different  introduction  to  the  public.  It  is 
obviously  possible,  (aside  from  Dr.  Rice's  evidence,)  that  Dr. 
James  Alexander  may  have  stated  to  Dr.  Rice,  through  some 
lapse  of  memory,  what  Dr.  Rice  has  affirmed  to  be  his  recol- 
lection of  his  words.  It  is  equally  possible  that  the  memory 
of  Dr.  Rice  himself  may  have  swerved  a  little  from  the  exact 
truth.  The  piece  as  originally  written  contained  an  addition- 
al verse,  which  is  given  with  the  editor's  note  of  explanation 
in  the  Familiar  Letters. 

*  See  Fam.  Let.,  vol.  ii,  p.  285,  foot-note  to  letter  of  March  4,  1859. 


Mr.  28.]  PARALLEL    BIBLE.  417 

I  have  been  favoured  by  Dr.  Hali  with  a  sight  of  the  proof- 
sheet  for  the  Journal  containing  this  stanza  crossed  out  in  red 
pencil  marks,  with  the  printer's  well-known  theta  in  the  mar- 
gin, also  in  red  pencil.  The  stanza  was  omitted  without  any 
hesitation,  upon  the  editor's  saying  that  in  his  opinion  it  was 
"  too  horrible.  "  The  prevailing  reason  for  striking  it  out  may 
have  been  the  simple  fact  that  objection  had  been  taken  to  it. 
Whether  "  too  horrible  "  or  not,  the  stanza  would  unquestion- 
ably have  detracted  a  little  from  the  singular  merit  of  the  poem. 
These  lines  are  so  well-known  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  insert 
them  here. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  he  wrote  to  his  Trenton  friend, 
advocating  the  printing  of  bibles  giving  the  exact  words  of  all 
the  parallel  passages,  instead  of  mere  references.  *  I  make  a 
single  extract : 

"It  has  been  said  already,  that  one  principal  objection  to  the  usual 
method,  is  the  numher  of  irrelevant  and  mere  verbal  parallels  by  which 
the  learner  is  perplexed  without  the  possibility  of  choice  among  them, 
until  after  an  actual  reference  to  all.  And  one  main  end  of  the  pro- 
posed reform,  is  to  save  time  and  labour  by  winnowing  the  margins  of 
our  bibles  and  commentaries;  a  process  which  will  certainly  reduce  the 
bulk  of  matter  to  a  much  more  reasonable  compass.  In  short,  the  plan 
which  I  propose  is  this,  that  parallel  texts  which  are  really  illustrative 
of  any  given  passage  be  selected  by  an  experienced  hand,  and  printed 
at  length.  To  perfect  the  arrangement,  there  might  be  a  class  of  less 
important  parallels  (but  none  irrelevant)  printed  apart,  for  the  benefit 
of  those  who  are  willing  to  pursue  the  matter  further.  None  but  those 
who  have  spent  much  time  in  the  study  of  commentaries,  knows  to 
what  extent  the  multitude  of  references  would  be  thus  reduced,  and 
how  much  time  and  trouble  would  be  saved  to  the  poor  learner.  To 
others,  the  true  state  of  the  case  can  be  made  evident  in  no  way  but  by 
specimens." 

The  next  letter  shows  that  he  was  at  this  time  pursuing 
four  distinct  courses  of  exegetical   study,  and    lecturing  on 

•  *  The  thing  here  proposed,  as  is  well  known,  has  since  been  carried  out  at 
the  suggestion  and  by  the  labours  of  others. 
18* 


418  LETTERS    TO    DR.    HALL.  [1837. 

eacL  topic  to  the  class.  He  excuses  himself  from  writing  in 
the  S.  S.  Journal,  thanks  his  correspondent  for  civilities,  asks 
for  more  writing  paper,  and  threatens  a  visit  to  Philadelphia. 

"  Princeton,  Dec.  15,  1837. 

'•  My  Dear  Sir 

"  I  have,  rather  imprudently  perhaps,  undertaken  four  distinct 
courses  of  exegetical  instruction  ia  the  Seminary,  all  of  which  require 
attention,  and  two  of  them  laborious  study.  I  hope  this  will  induce 
you  to  excuse  my  repeated  breach  of  promise  as  to  journalizing  for 
you.  Please  to  consider  yourself  thanked  by  the  anonyme  for  your 
late  communication.  I  send  the  stray  pamphlets  and  regret  the  error. 
I  shall  count  it  a  privilege  to  obtain  letter  paper  at  all  similar  to  this. 
My  excuses  above  are  not  designed  to  blast  all  hopes  of  aid,  but  only 
to  prevent  impatience  at  the  delay  of  my  precious  contributions.  I 
hope  to  do  something  yet  before  February,  in  which  month  I  anticipate 
the  pleasure  of  a  personal  interview  ;    and  in  the  meantime, 

"Am  yours, 

"Jos.  Addison  Alexander." 

In  the  undated  communication  given  below,  he  begs  in  his 
usual  serio-comic  strain  for  Wettenhall's  Greek  Grammar  and 
the  Family  Cabinet  Atlas. 

"  My  Dear  Sir  : 

"  Do  you  think  it  would  be  possible  to  find  in  Philadelphia,  two 
copies  of  Wettenhall's  Greek  Grammar  (in  Latin),  either  the  English 
or  American  edition  ?  If  you  should  learn  the  existence  of  such  pheno- 
mena, whether  at  first  or  second  hand,  I  would  thank  you  to  secure 
them  for  my  benefit.  I  likewise  wis!)  to  get  two  copies  of  the  Family 
Cabinet  Atlas.  By  picking  them  up  and  sending  them  by  the  first  oc- 
casion, with  a  memorandum  of  the  price,  you  will  much  oblige 
"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"J.  A.  Alexander." 

"Mr.  J.  Hall." 

The  letters  of  this  period  to  Dr.  Hall  would  be  enough  of 
themselves  to  convince  the  sourest  skeptic  that  the  writer  of 
them  was  a  man  of  versatility,  kindliness,  humour,  true 
politeness  of  heart,  and  heavy  intellectual  labours.     It  would 


^Et.28.]  FIIIST    EFFORTS    IN    PULPIT.  419 

add  to  this  impression  if  I  could  recover  reams  of  paper  now 
burnt  up.  The  recollections  of  survivors  are  now  my  only 
resource. 

The  studies  in  Isaiah,  and  those  bearing  upon  collateral 
subjects,  were  carried  on  again  in  1838.  His  private  class  in 
Hebrew  Mas  resumed  and  continued.  His  class  duties  in  the 
Seminary  were  performed  with  exemplary  zeal  and  patience. 
The  year  is  marked  by  his  entrance  on  the  distinctive  work  of  a 
preacher.  He  was  received  as  a  candidate  under  the  care  of  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick,  in  February,  and  during  the 
month  of  April  was  licensed  as  a  probationer  for  the  Gospel 
ministry.  His  first  efforts  in  the  pulpit  were  anxiously  ex- 
pected, and  were  accepted  with  applause,  as  tokens  of  a  noble 
career  as  an  .expounder  of  Scripture,  and  as  an  orator  apt  to 
teach,  and  to  win  souls.  The  most  intellectual  were  charmed 
the  most  frivolous  were  awed  and  arrested,  the  most  simple 
were  instructed  in  the  mysteries  of  the  kingdom.  This  year 
is  also  signalized  by  his  connection  with  the  Princeton  Review, 
of  which  he  now  became  an  associate  editor.  The  light  now 
broadens  for  a  while  upon  his  path,  owing  to  the  comparative 
fulness  of  the  journal. 

He  was  visited  on  the  morning  of  January  the  1st,  by  a 
Mr.  Burgess,  who  was  then  supplying  the  place  of  Dr.  Rob- 
inson, in  the  Union  Seminary  of  New  York.  At  11  o'clock 
he  heard  Dr.  Rice  preach  on  the  duty  of  praying  for  a  reign 
of  righteousness.  In  the  evening  he  attended  the  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  in  the  Seminary.  As  a  sample  of  his 
method  of  preparation  and  instruction  at  this  time,  I  insert 
what  follows.  No  one  can  fail  to  be  struck  with  the  con- 
scientious thoroughness  and  diligence  such  statements  imply, 
and  the  power  of  rapid  and  consecutive  reading  which  they 
betray. 

"  January  2d. — I  examined  my  private  class  on  the  book  of  Nabum. 
In  preparing  for  my  lectures  to  this  class,  I  have  read  every  word  of 
the  Septuagint,  Targum,  Peschito  and  Vulgate ;  a  great  part  of 
Jerome's  commentary  ;  every  word  of  Jarchi,  Kimchi,  and  Aben-Ezra  ; 


420  EXPERIMENTS    WITH    HIS   CLASS.  (133a 

every  word  of  Grotius,  and  in  Pool's  synopsis,  J.  D.  Micliaelis.  Rosen- 
muller,  and  the  Comprehensive  Commentiry.  This  course  of  reading, 
though  laborious,  has  been  highly  satisfactory  ;  the  rather  as  I  have  se- 
cured, in  black  and  white,  the  results  for  future  use." 

It  is  somewhat  amusing;  to  consider  the  force  of  the  word 
"  laborious  "  in  such  a  connection.  The  thingr  so  described 
would  probably  have  broken  the  back  of  any  other  man  on 
this  side  of  Germany. 

Here  is  something  about  the  Princeton  savans  : 

"January  3d. — Attended  the  conversazione  at  Professor  Henry's. 
Mr.  Stephen  Alexander  gave  an  account  of  the  solar  eclipse  which  is 
to  take  place  in  September,  illustrated  by  drawings,  and  a  map  of  the 
United  States,  drawn  by  Professor  Henry  on  a  very  large  scale.  I 
wish  very  much  to  have  such  a  map  or  maps,  for  the  illustration  of  my 
lectures  on  Biblical  Geography  ;  and  Mr.  Henry  has  kindly  offered  to 
superintend  the  preparation  of  one  for  me." 

It  appears  from  a  record  in  another  volume,  that  he  was 
now  making  some  bold  and  singular  experiments  with  his  class 
in  the  Seminary.  Among  others  was  the  plan  of  giving  out 
Hebrew  words  and  phrases  to  be  taken  down  at  his  dictation. 
The  results  of  these  trials  are  given  in  the  subjoined  extract 
from  his  journal.     He  got  his  cue  from  Germany. 

As  this  entry  lets  us  into  the  secret  of  much  of  his  think- 
ing on  the  whole  subject  of  lecturing  and  questioning  a  class, 
I  may  as  well  bring  in  just  here  a  few  words  by  one  of  his 
pupils  Professor  Andrew  D.  Hepburn  of  Miami  University,  in 
reference  to  this  matter:  though  belonging  to  a  much  later 
period  they  come  in  properly  at  this  point.  After  many 
pages  of  unqualified,  though  discriminating  eulogy,  he  goes  on 
as  follows : 

"  While  superior  to  any  man  I  ever  heard  as  a  lecturer,  I  think  Dr. 
A.  failed  in  another  part  of  the  work  of  the  class-room;  in  his  ques- 
tioning on  the  lectures.  The  questions  were  always  clear  and  shnrp  ; 
it  wa*  impossible  to  misunderstand  them,  but  they  were  rigidly  confined 
to  what  had  been  said  in  the  lecture.  He  allowed  no  digression ;  he 
demanded  only  what  had  been  said.     He  never  made,  so  far  as  I  recol- 


JSt.29.]  QUESTIONS   IN   THE    CLASS.  421 

lect,  any  explanations  in  the  hour  devoted  to  questioning.  He  never 
allowed  another  to  put  questions  to  him  in  the  class-room.  He  once 
told  ns,  that  those  who  had  questions  to  ask  could  write  them  and 
place  them  on  the  desk,  and  he  would  answer  them  at  the  nest  meet- 
ing ;  but  that  he  could  not  answer  extempore.  I  do  not  know  why  he 
adopted  this  method  of  requiring  the  bare  repetition  of  what  he  had 
communicated.  That  he  had  some  definite  principle  I  do  not  doubt ; 
for  more  than  most  of  our  professors,  had  he  made  the  subject  of 
methods  of  education  a  matter  of  study." 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  record  now  to  be  given,  that  Mr. 
Alexander's  methods  were  indeed  a  matter  of  deep  and  saga- 
cious study  with  him,  and  that  at  one  time  he  permitted  ex- 
temporaneous questions  to  be  put  to  him  by  members  of  the 
class. 

The  opinion  expressed  as  to  the  failure  of  the  teacher 
as  a  catechist  will  not  be  concurred  in  by  all  his  pupils.  Of 
course  I  shall  not  presume  to  decide  such  a  point  The  ac- 
count given  of  his  manner  of  questioning  is  undoubtedly  cor- 
rect. In  addition  it  may  be  said  that  a  series  of  questions, 
having  almost  precisely  the  same  purport  would  be  fairly 
hailed  at  a  silent  student.  The  object  of  these  questions 
which  were  all  as  simple  as  possible,  was  to  draw  out  from  the 
lips  of  the  embarrassed  student  a  single  sentence  giving  part 
of  the  substance  of  the  lecture  he  had  heard  at  the  previous 
recitation. 

"January  6. — I  adopted  a  new  method  in  my  Hebrew  recitations. 
Instead  of  making  the  class  read  the  whole  of  the  lesson,  which  is 
very  tedious  to  them  and  to  me,  I  merely  ask  questions  on  the  differ- 
ent parts.  I  am  pleased  with  the  experiment.  I  had  previously 
adopted  the  European  method  of  lecturing  at  one  recitation  on  the  part 
to  be  recited  at  the  next ;  and  am  convinced,  now,  that  it  is  the  true 
method  of  imparting  the  most  knowledge  in  a  given  time.  I  was  for- 
merly, prejudiced  against  it,  as  a  plan  adopted  merely  to  save  labour  and 
make  superficial  scholars.  In  this  I  was  first  shaken  by  my  visit  to  the 
German  Universities,  which  made  me  ask  myself,  how  is  it  that  this 
method  of  instruction  is  adhered  to  in  a  country  principally  noted  for 
its  love  of  change  ?    If  anything  could  have  been  gained  by  innovation 


422  METHODS    OF   STUDY.  [1938. 

the  Germans  would  have  tried  it.  I  have  now  removed  my  doubts  by 
fair  experiment,  and  am  persuaded  that,  even  in  elementary  instruction 
this  plan  is  the  best.  As  for  the  usual  objection  to  it,  that  it  enables 
the  indolent  to  dispense  with  study,  and  deprives  the  studious  of  the 
advantages  which  flow  from  independent  intellectual  effort;  itsis 
founded  on  a  mere  mistake.  The  only  effect  of  this  sort,  is,  to  elevate 
the  standard  of  acquisition  by  sparing  the  necessity  of  hunting  after 
some  things,  and  thus  leaving  time  for  the  mastering  of  others.  But 
the  great  argument  in  favor  of  the  method  is  to  my  mind,  this  :  that 
it  enables  the  teacher  to  direct  the  student's  mind  as  to  what  he  ought 
to  study.  The  student  of  the  Bible,  for  example,  needs  to  be  informed 
by  one  who  knows  what  are  the  real  difficulties  of  a  passage ;  not  one 
in  ten  of  which  might  possibly  suggest  themselves.  When  there  are 
different  opinions  to  be  weighed,  he  needs  a  brief,  clear  statement  of 
them,  and  at  least  an  outline  of  the  reasons  pro  and  con.  These  he  can 
digest  and  compare  in  private  study  ;  and  his  intellectual  acts  will  thus 
become  more  elevated  and  salutary  in  proportion  to  the  variety  and 
complexity  of  their  objects :  always  provided  that  the  latter  are  not  too 
various  and  complex  for  his  time  or  strength;  which  of  course  must  be 
left  to  the  discretion  of  the  teacher,  and  is  one  of  his  most  interesting 
and  important  duties.  These  statements  might,  indeed,  be  made  after 
the  student  has  prepared  his  lesson  ;  but  the  result  of  my  experience 
is  that  they  are  then  too  late.  After  toiling  through  a  ta-k  in  which 
he  feels  no  interest,  because  he  does  not  know  the  interesting  points 
of  it,  he  is  apt  to  regard  all  further  illustration  as  surplusage ;  as  some- 
thing added  to  a  thing  of  which  he  has  already  had  enough.  When, 
on  the  other  hand,  explanatory  statements  are  made  before  he  enters 
on  the  careful  study  of  the  lesson,  his  attention  is  awakened  by  the 
hope  of  valuable  aid,  and  the  fear  of  losing  something  which  he  ought 
to  get  keeps  his  attention  steady.  Then  when  lie  retires  to  private  study, 
what  he  studies  has  at  least  some  interest  made  from  having  been,  the 
subject  of  public  remark;  and  when  he  comes  to  recite,  he  comes  with 
at  least  a  curiosity  to  know  how  others  have  succeeded;  and  however 
negligent  in  private,  what  he  has  already  heard  in  public  renders  him 
competent  in  some  degree  to  judge  his  fellows.  All  this  tends  tomahe 
the  exercises  interesting,  which  if  not  a  causa  qua,  is  a  causa  sine  qua 
non  of  all  improvement.  The  effects  which  I  have  described,  are  not 
suggested  by  imagination.  They  arc  rather  at  variance  with  my  for- 
mer fancies,  and  are  the  products  of  my  own  experiment.  I  began  the 
new  mei hod  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  with  the  2nd  class  in  study- 
ing Isaiah.     My   plan  with  former  classes  has  been  to  assign  a  lesson 


jEt.  29.  WITH   HIS    PRIVATE    CLASS.  423 

and  to  hear  the  whole  of  it  read,  translated,  and  grammatically  ana- 
lyzed. The  effect  has  heen  that  while  a  few  men,  who  would  make 
progress  under  any  method,  have  pursued  the  study  hoth  with  pleasure 
and  advantage,  the  greater  number  have  been  listless,  and  learned  noth- 
ing in  the  lecture-room  beyond  what  they  acquired  in  their  rooms. 
Under  the  new  method  things  are  wholly  changed.  The  class,  by  no 
means  a  superior  one  in  intellect  or  zeal  for  knowledge,  seem  now, 
with  scarcely  an  exception,  to  be  deeply  interested  in  the  study;  and 
the  most  of  them  take  copious  notes,  spontaneously  of  course,  at  each 
lecture.  At  the  same  time,  those  who  would  have  done  well  in  the 
other  case,  appear  to  make  still  greater  progress  ;  so  that  I  am  greatly 
encouraged  in  my  labours." 

"  The  next  step  was  to  introduce  the  method  in  my  private  classes 
and  with  like  success.  I  had  no  thought  of  trying  the  experiment  with 
those  who  are  beginning  to  read  Hebrew,  until  very  lately.  I  had,  in- 
deed, determined  long  ago,  to  introduce  the  practice  of  writing  more  ; 
and  with  that  view  had  the  lecture-room  refitted  with  conveniences  for 
writing,  and  required  the  new  class  from  the  beginning  to  write  at  my 
dictation  the  first  outlines  of  the  grammar.  For  this  purpose  they 
learned  to  form  the  characters  as  soon  as  they  learned  to  read  them ; 
and  a  number  of  the  class  can  now  write  Hebrew  words  with  great 
facility — all,  I  believe,  except  some  one  or  two,  with  tolerable  correct- 
ness. In  order  to  maintain  this  habit,  I  continue  to  px-opound  short 
sentences  once  a  week  to  be  translated  into  Hebrew ;  and  have  been 
surprised  not  only  with  the  execution,  but  also  with  the  interest  taken 
in  the  exercise,  which  is  wholly  voluntary.  I  had  supposed,  however, 
that  the  old  plan  of  reading  Hebrew  would  be  necessary,  at  least  for 
the  present  session  ;  but  the  contrast  between  these  dull  recitations  and 
my  exercises  with  the  other  classes,  led  me  to  another  experiment,  viz. : 
that  of  explaining  beforehand  the  more  difficult  points  in  the  passage 
to  be  read,  and  directing  attention  not  only  to  grammatical,  but  also  to 
exegetical  questions  connected  with  the  lesson.  In  order  to  gain  time 
for  this,  I  mean  to  catechise  the  class  on  those  points  which  are  really 
difficult,  and  let  the  others  go,  except  so  far  as  they  are  brought  up  by 
the  questions  which  the  students  are  allowed  to  ask.  To-day,  after  ex- 
amining several  on  the  first  eight  verses  of  the  8th  chapter  of  Genesis, 
I  lectured  colloquially  on  the  eight  which  follow.  Besides  mere  gram- 
matical phenomena,  I  touched  upon  the  two  words  rendered  genera- 
tions, in  v.  9,  and  the  difference  in  their  meaning ;  the  true  sense  of 
righteous  and  perfect,  as  applied  to  Noah  ;  the  use  of  the  words  flesh 
and  icay,  in  v.  12  ;    the  meaning  of  the  end  of  all  flesh. is  come  before 


424  BIBLE    STUDIES.  C1S38. 

me ;  the  materials  of  the  ark  and  its  dimensions ;    and  the  meaning 
of  the  word  translated  window,  in  v.  16." 

The  next  lets  the  reader  still  more  fully  into  his  plans,  and 
enables  him  to  comprehend  the  scale  on  which  the  young  pro- 
fessor was  projecting  the  future. 

"  January  9. — At  10  o'clock  I  met  my  private  class.  Having  finished 
ISTahum,  I  began  to-day  to  lecture  on  the  twelve  Psalms  of  Asaph. 
These  Psalms  I  propose  to  study  no  le?s  thoroughly  than  Nahum.  The 
books  which  I  expect  to  read  upon  the  subject  are  :  the  four  chief  an- 
cient versions;  the  three  Eabbins,  Jarchi,  Kimchi  and  Aben-Ezra; 
Calvin,  Cocceius,  Pool's  Synopsis,  Grotius,  J.  H.  Michaelis,  De  Wette, 
Rosenmullcr,  Klauss,  Stier,  Ewald.  I  devote  much  time  to  these  pri- 
vate classes,  not  for  their  sakes  merely,  but  for  my  own  improvement, 
which  is  sens'bly  promoted  by  the  stimulus  of  teaching.  What  I  learn 
in  this  way  will  be  also  available  in  teaching  future  classes,  whether  in 
public  or  private." 

The  next  day  he  made  this  entry: 

"  January  10. — Read  Genesis  xxv.  xxvi.  xxvii.  and  Matthew  xiii.  in 
course.  I  have  for  several  years  read  the  Old  Testament  once,  and  the 
New  Testament  twice  in  twelve  months  ;  according  to  a  calendar  of  my 
own  invention.  My  rule  is  to  read  four  chapters  of  the  New  Testament 
every  Sunday,  and  one  of  the  New  Testament  with  three  of  the  old  every 
other  day,  besides  Sunday.  To  bring  the  numbers  out  exactly  even,  I 
divide  the  119th  Psalm  into  eleven  portions." 

The  next  entry  has  reference  to  his  studies  in  modern 
Greek. 

"  I  read  to-day  a  number  of  colloquial  Greek  phrases  with  my 
friend  Constantine  Menaios,  an  Athenian  and  a  member  of  our 
college,  with  whom  I  have  read,  talked  and  written  Greek  since 
the  beginning  of  the  session.  Besides  the  assistance  which  he  gives  me 
in  the  language,  he  is  highly  intelligent  and  well-informed  in  everything 
relating  to  his  country.  The  January  number  of  the  Princeton  Re- 
view is  through  the  press  at  last.  Since  it  was  put  to  press,  Mr.  Dod 
ha9  consented  to  become  the  editor,  conjointly  with  myself.  To  this  con- 
dition I  have  agreed  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  his  services  for  the 


JSt.28.)  A    POEM   SUGGESTED.  425 

work.  I  have  written  for  the  present  numher  a  desultory  article  on 
Melanchthon's  Letters,  and  a  few  short  notices  of  books  and  pamphlets, 
one  or  two  of  which  will  be  thought  ungracious,  and  perhaps  they  are." 

The  following  record  shows  what  he  was  doing  with,  his 
private  class : 

"January  12. — Lectured  on  the  eighth  and  ninth  chapters  (if  Leviti- 
cus to  my  private  class,  consisting  of  George  Hale,  Melancthon  W. 
Jacobus,  Jacob  "W.  E.  Ker,  and  Daniel  Stewart.  These  men  are  the 
flower  of  our  senior  class  in  relation  to  Biblical  Philology.  I  meet 
them  every  Friday  morning.  I  am  at  present  reading  what  I  wrote 
upon  Leviticus  when  teaching  a  private  class  two  years  ago." 

The  secluded  student  did  not  forget  to  think  of  the  poor 
and  houseless,  and  few  were  more  liberal  even  to  the  most 
worthleas  beggars.    On  January  the  13th  he  wrote  these  words  : 

"  A  most  enchanting  day  :  while  the  ground  is  frozen  hard  and  the 
walking  therefore  good,  the  sky  is  clear,  the  sun  bright,  and  the  air 
like  that  of  May — an  Italian  winter.  What  a  mercy  to  the  poor  in  these 
hard  times!  " 

He  sometimes  thought  of  writing  again  in  metre;  but  soon 
abandoned  the  idea.  The  most  beautiful  of  Mr.  Alexander's 
verses  are  on  themes  connected  with  or  immediately  drawn 
from  the  Bible.  His  favourite  themes  were  those  which  com- 
bined a  sacred,  a  biographical,  and  a  dramatic  interest.  Such 
a  theme  he  had  found  in  '•  Esau,"  and  such  a  theme  he  now 
thought  he  saw  in  Judas. 

"  January  13. — I  have  some  thought  of  trying  my  hand  at  a  dramatic 
poem  to  be  called 'Iscariot,' correcting  some  popular  mistakes  as  to 
the  character  of  Judas,  and  presenting  it,  poetically,  in  a  juster  light.  I 
have  little  time  for  such  employments,  but  it  might  do  good,  and  by 
printing  the  tiling  in  the  Literary  Messenger  I  might  pay  my  deht  to  the 
conductor  for  the  last  two  volumes,  which  he  wishes  to  be  paid  for  not 
in  money  but  in  writing." 

The  diary  of  home  events  is  then  resumed. 

"  Mr.  Dod  brought  from  New  York  several  books  for  our  review. 


426  A    SERMON.  [1838. 

Into  my  Lands  he  put  Roberts'  Visit  to  Muscat,  &c.  ;for  J.  "W.  A.  he 
brought  Gardiner's  Music  of  Nature  ;  for  Dr.  Miller,  Henry's  Christian 
Antiquities ;  for  himself,  something  on  Phrenology. 

Here  is  a  specimen  of  the  exegetical  ■writings  that  crowd 
his  journals  of  almost  every  year. 

"  January  14,  (Lord's  day.) — I  have  always  been  accustomed  to  sup- 
pose that  vs.  6  and.  10  of  Matthew  xviii.  related  literally  to  children. 
On  reading  the  chapter  to-day  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  little  ones  in 
these  two  verses  means  humble  Christians,  in  reference  to  the  expression 
Traihiov  tolovtov  which  is  again  to  be  explained  by  the  comparison  in 
v.  3  and  4.  2nd,  A  true  Christian  must  in  this  respect  be  a  little  child  : 
whoever  receives  such  a  little  child  as  a  true  Christian  receiveth  me  : 
whoso  shall  offend  such  a  child  is  a  child  in  this  sense,  i.  e.  an  humble 
Christian." 

Here  is  his  account  of  a  sermon : 

"  Heard  my  father  preach  from  Isaiah  xlii.  16.  His  design  was  to  show 
that  actual  conversion  is  a  very  different  thing  from  what  the  subjects 
of  it  previously  expect.  He  mentioned  among  other  particulars,  that  a 
soul  when  under  true  conviction  seems  to  itself  to  be  growing  worse 
and  worse;  which  is  graciously  so  ordered  to  preserve  it  from  self-com- 
placency :  which  is  also  true  with  respect  to  pungent  feelings,  which  the 
awakened  soul  desires  without  obtaining.  In  like  manner  men  expect 
their  exercises  after  conversion  to  be  something  supernatural,  and 
wholly  unlike  what  they  had  before  ;  whereas  they  find  them  to  arise 
as  naturally  as  their  former  thoughts.  He  rebited  in  the  sermon  two 
cases  illustrative  of  the  slight  occasions  of  conversion;  one  was  that  of 
a  person  who  being  disappointed  in  his  expectation  of  going  to  a  dis- 
tant church,  walked  out  with  Doddridge's  Rise  and  Progress  in  his 
hand,  to  read  alone.  During  that  walk,  as  he  ever  afterwards  believed, 
he  underwent  a  saving  change ;  the  reality  of  which  was  attested  by 
the  piety  of  fifty  or  sixty  years.  The  other  case  was  that  of  an  Irishman 
(Jno.  Ross,  I  believe)  who  had  been  brought  up  strictly  a  Roman  Catho- 
lic, and  never  heard  Protestant  preaching  till  he  made  his  escape  from  a 
British  man-of-war,  into  which  be  was  impressed  during  the  blockade  of 
New  London,  and  passing  through  the  town  went  into  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, was  awakened  and  converted,  and  became  a  student  in  the  Semi- 
nary here.     Looked  at  a  little  book  just  published  proposing  a  new 


>Et.28.]  PRINCETON    REVIEW.  427 

order  of  missionaries :  viz.  intinerant  preaching  physicians — and  a  pe- 
culiar course  of  education  for  them,  and  substituting  medicine  for  the 
dead  languages.  The  substance  of  the  volume  might  have  been  put 
into  a  dozen  pages;  but  the  thoughts  are  good.  We  are  too  much 
di-posed  to  overlook  the  fact  that  the  way  of  the  gospel  was  prepared 
at  first  by  miracles  of  healing,  which  opened  the  people's  hearts  and 
made  them  willing  to  hear  the  truth.  The  same  effect  in  kind  has  fol- 
lowed from  the  exercise  of  medical  skill  among  the  heathen." 

The  brothers  sometimes  hit  upon  the  same  solution  of  a 
difficulty.  Here  is  an  example,  "  The  same  interpretation  of 
Matthew  xviii.  10,  which  I  have  suggested  on  page  20,  occurred 
to  James  in  reading  the  chapter  two  clays  ago,  but  I  find  to- 
night that  it  is  given  by  Beza  and  other  old  writers."  The 
journal  of  the  day  proceeds  as  follows  : 

"  Received  the  28th  Annual  Report  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  Foreign  Missions.  The  January  number  of  the  Princeton 
Review  has  at  length  appeared.  A  great  improvement  in  appearance  on 
the  former  volumes.  The  paper  is  large  and  white,  and  the  cover  much 
more  sightly.  This  last  change  is  owing  in  a  great  measure  to  the  de- 
cision and  industry  of  the  new  editor,  who  plagued  the  printer  till  the 
object  was  accomplished,  after  much  experiment.  I  think  the  number 
a  fair,  readable  number.  It  contains  an  article  on  Melancthon's  early 
Letters,  by  myself;  one  on  Pastoral  attention  to  Children,  by  Dr.  Miller  ; 
one  on  Expository  Preaching,  by  James  W.  Alexander ;  one  on  Incidents 
of  Travel,  by  Dr.  Alexander ;  one  on  the  Oxford  Tracts,  by  Dr.  Hodge  • 
one  on  The  Physical  Theory  of  Another  Life,  by  Mr.  Yeomans  of  Tren- 
ton ;  and  one  on  the  South  Sea  Islands,  by  Mr.  Dod.  I  also  wrote  the 
notices  inserted  in  the  quarterly  list  of  books  and  pamphlets  at  the  end 
of  the  number  ;  as  many  more  were  excluded  for  want  of  room.  We 
were  anxious  to  begin  the  list  in  this  number,  even  on  a  contracted 
scale,  to  show  that  it  would  hereafter  form  a  regular  part  of  the  work. 
I  have  now  to  commence  my  preparations  for  reviewing  Roberts  on 
Cochin  China  and  Muscat.  I  have  never  been  kept  so  busy  within  my 
recollection.  I  have  reason  to  be  thankful  that  my  business  is  at  once 
so  agreeable  and  useful,  whether  in  public  or  private." 

The  following  letter  to  Dr.  Hall  is  undated,  but  certainly 
belongs  to  this  year.     The  same  cover  embraces  a  translation 


428  A   LETTER.  [1838. 

of  a  Greek  prayer,  and  extracts  from  Rutherford  and  Leighton, 
of  whom  the  latter  especially  was  a  favourite  writer  with  him. 
He  criticized  his  behaviour  in  ecclesiastical  matters  with  im- 
partial severity.  I  have  heard  him  say  of  the  former  that  he 
did  not  please  him  as  a  writer  half  so  much  as  old  Boston. 
This  was  one  of  the  points  on  which  Mr.  Alexander  differed  from 
his  brother  James,  who  hung  over  Rutherford's  letters  with 
an  unfading  delight.  The  brothers  agreed  in  admiring  the  great 
learning  and  singular  piety  of  both.  The  exegetical  remark 
next  made  is  worthy  of  attention.  The  letter  itself  contains 
an  interesting  fact  with  regard  to  Makemic. 

"My  Dear  Sir: 

"As  my  day-book  is  still  in  your  hands,  I  believe  I  will  trouble  you 
to  get  a  third  bound  to  match  it.  I  am  making  extensive  inroads  on 
the  first  already.  I  will  thank  you  to  buy  Millington*  when  it  ap- 
pears. I  learn  from  James  that  Mr.  Packard  had  said  something  to 
him  as  to  our  not  noticing  the  Di  tionary.  Did,  or  did  I  not  explain  to 
you  that  I  had  actually  written  a  short  notice — nay,  that  it  was  in  type 
and  had  heen  read  in  proof,  but  was  excluded  in  consequence  of  my  co- 
editor,  who  knew  nothing  of  it,  having  given  the  printer  something  to 
be  put  before  it  ?  I  knew  nothing  of  the  error  till  the  sheet  was  print- 
ed off.  I  have  been  reading  Spencer's  Letters.  He  says  Makemie,  the 
first  Presbyterian  minister  in  America,  left  his  library  to  your  church. 
Have  they  it  now,  and  does  it  include  the  pamphlet  on  Lord  Cornbury's 
persecution  ?     I  would  come  to  Philadelphia  to  see  it. 

"  William  hastens  me. 

"  Yours  truly, 

"J.  A.  A." 

He  drank  tea  on  the  17th  at  his  brother's,  where  he  met 
the  Rev.  Oscar  Harris,  originally  of  Goshen,  N".  Y.,  a  pupil  of 
Dr.  Fisk's,  and  a  graduate  of  Williams  college.  They  went  to- 
gether to  Dr.  Miller's  to  attend  the  Philosophical.  There  they 
fell  in  with  the  Rev.  David  Magie,  of  Elizabethtown,  and  Wm. 
B.  Kinney,  Esq.,  of  Newark,  and  Dr.  Carnahan,  Dr.  Rice,  Prof. 
Dod,  Prof.  S.  Alexander,  Principal  Hart,  Tutor  Cooley,  Dr. 
George  M.  Maclean,  and  their  venerable  host,  Dr.  Miller  him- 

*  Millington  on  Engineering. 


JEt.  2a]  PHILOSOPHICAL    CLUB.  429 

self.  Messrs.  Maclean,  Dod,  Kinney,  arc!  Magie  had  just 
come  from  the  Common  School  Convention ;  "  which  "  writes 
the  enemy  of  all  conventions,  in  his  "  Day-Book, "  "  seems  to 
have  been  a  very  interesting  meeting.  It  was  resolved  to  pe- 
tition the  Legislature  for  the  existing  School  Law,  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  minister  of  public  instruction.  Speeches  were 
made  last  night  by  Mr.  Frelinghuysen,  Mr.  Aaron  of  Burling- 
ton and  others." 

It  is  evident  that  the  free  and  easy  conversation  at  these 
re-unions  pleased  him ;  and  though  he  may  have  been  often  a 
silent  member  of  the  club,  he  never  failed  to  pick  up  and  carry 
off  with  him  something:  in  the  wav  of  knowledge  or  mental 
stimulus.  In  his  regular  journal  I  find  the  following  record  of 
this  meeting 

"January  17. — "Went  to  the  Literary  and  Philosophical  meeting  at 
Dr.  Miller's.     After  prayer  by  Dr.  Carnahai,.  Mr.  Dod  suggested  as  a 
theme  for  conversation,  the  expediency  of  forming  a  New  Jersey  His- 
torical Society.     Several  f  icts  were  stated  in  illustration  of  the  fact 
that  what  is  done  must  be  done  quickly.     Mr.  Kinney  said  that  certain 
ancient  records  of  the  town  of  Newark,  which  he  had  examined  some 
years  ago,  had  now  disappeared.     Dr.  Miller  stated  that  a  chest  full  of 
Gen.  Morgan's  papers  had  been  found  in  Mr.  Teneyke's  barn,  some 
years  ago,  broke  open  and  the  papers  scattered.     J.  W.  Alexander  re- 
ferred to  the  case  of  Dr.  Minto's  papers,  which  he  and  I  had  examined 
some  years  since,  and  out  of  which  I  formed  a  sketch  of  his  biography 
and  printed  it  in  some  petty  Philadelphia  paper.  [Afterwards  reprinted 
in  the  Princeton  Magazine.]     To  show  that  original  documents  may 
yet  be  recovered,  Mr.  Kinney  stated  that  the  original  grant  of  West 
Jersey  to  Win.  Penn  and  others,  had  been  recently  recovered  by  the 
State,  through  Mr.  John  R.  Brown,  to  whom  it  was  forwarded  from 
Harrisburg,  among  some  ancient  papers  relating  to  a  suit  in  chancery  ; 
and  that  the  original  deed  for  the  land  on  which  Newark  stands  was 
lately  brought  to  light  from  some  obscure  place  in  the  country.     Mr. 
Hart  observed  that  in  the  Morford  family  there  is  the  history  of  an  an- 
cient Princeton  family,  called  Fitz  Randolph,  who  owned  the  ground 
on  which  the  College  stands.     Dr.  Maclean  stated  that  the  two  old 
ladies  who  nursed  Gen.  Mercer  are  still  living  in  this  neighborhood. 
Vice  President  Maclean  informed  us  that  Gen.  Mercer  was  not  huried 
here  ;  that  he  died  in  Philadelphia.     Mr.  Magie  also  gave  an  entertain- 


430  CURIOUS   INCIDENT. 


[1888. 


ing  account  of  an  old  woman  whom  he  travelled  with  from  Somerville 
to  Elizabethtown,  in  whose  father's  house  Gen.  Washington  lived,  at 
Morristown.  This  old  gentlewoman  bore  witness  to  the  General's  com- 
muning in  the  Presbyterian  church  there,  and  to  his  habit  of  daily 
prayer.  This  led  to  a  discussion  as  to  Washington's  character,  Dr. 
Miller  doubting  his  piety,  and  J.  W.  A.  and  Mr.  Magie  suggesting  that 
the  way  in  which  he  died  might  be  explained  from  his  habitual  reserve, 
and  Mr.  Dod  affirming  that  the  general  opinion  as  to  Washington's 
virtues,  even  if  erroneous,  was  better  than  the  truth.  Dr.  Miller  .re- 
lated an  interesting  anecdote  received  from  Dr.  Barton,  the  amount  of 
which  was,  that  when  Washington  left  home  to  take  command  of  the 
Continental  Army,  he  charged  his  nephew,  Lund,  to  be  hospitable, 
kind,  and  take  care  of  his  affairs,  but  not  to  trust  any  man,  for  no  man 
can  be  trusted." 

Afterwards  he  had  some  conversation  with  Dr.  Carnahan 
about  Aaron  Burr,  and  the  life  of  hirn  by  Davis,  "  which  we 
wish  him.  to  review."  He  adds,  "  Mr.  Hart  has  Tyndale's  New 
Testament  in  his  hands  for  the  same  purpose." 

"A  curious  incident:  four  or  five  years  ago,  John  Hart  imported 
from  Europe  Baxter's  works,  in  twenty-odd  volumes.  One  volume 
was  missing,  and  he  replaced  it  by  another  [order],  but  with  a  volume 
which  did  not  match  the  rest  in  binding.  To-day  the  missing  volume 
has  appeared;  brought  by  Mr.  Harris  from  Mr.  Jones  in  Brunswick,  who 
found  it  in  the  hands  of  one  of  his  parishioners,  by  whom  (or  some 
one  else)  it  had  been  picked  up  in  the  streets  of  Princeton,  soaked  with 
rain ;  I  bought  the  set  from  Hart  last  year." 

I  think  it  must  have  been  at  night  after  getting  home  from 
the  Philosophical,  that  he  penned  what  follows.  It  will  be 
perceived  that  his  mind  was  still  excogitatiny  plans  of  Bible 
study  and  instruction. 

"  January  17.— I  have  conceived  a  new  plan  for  my  biblical  instruc- 
tions, if  the  Lord  should  spare  my  life  and  keep  me  here.  It  is  briefly 
this  :  to  abandon  the  practice  of  reading  scraps  with  the  classes ;  and, 
in  lieu  thereof,  lecture  continuously  on  the  whole  Old  Testament.  The 
beginning  class  are  now  studying  Genesis.  After  finishing  that  book,  I 
propose  to  take  up  Exodus,  and  go  as  far  as  I  can  during  the  first  year; 
after  which  I  can  pursue  the  course,  in  a  more  private  way,  with  such  of 


,Et.2S.j  MISSIONARY    HERALD.  431 

the  class  as  may  choose  to  attend.  In  this  way  I  think  I  could  expound 
the  Pentateuch  at  least,  and  perhaps  Joshua  and  Judges,  before  the  class 
leave  the  Seminary.  My  object  in  this  method  would  be,  chiefly  to 
compel  myself  to  study  the  whole  Bible  critically  in  course,  and  to  re- 
cord the  result  of  my  researches.  In  order  to  attain  this  end  as  soon 
as  possible,  I  might  make  the  next  new  class  begin  with  Ruth  instead 
of  Genesis,  and  the  following  class  with  Esther ;  and  carry  each  for- 
ward, without  any  omission,  to  the  end  of  the  year.  On  this  plan,  with 
God's  blessing,  I  believe  that  I  might  finish  the  historical  books  (Gene- 
sis— Esther)  in  three  years,  and  possibly  the  whole  in  five.  I  shall 
never  feel  at  home  in  Scripture  till  I  have  accomplished  such  a  course, 
in  the  Old  Testament  at  least,  and  possibly  not  till  I  despatch  the  New. 
Quod  felix  faustamque  sit ! 

"January  21. — Read  the  Missionary  Herald  for  1822.  I  began  to 
read  the  journals  of  our  American  Missionaries  in  order  from  the  be- 
ginning several  months  ago,  and  have  continued  so  to  do  at  intervals. 
The  connected  view  thus  presented  of  a  history  so  full  of  incident  is 
deeply  interesting.  I  wish  I  had  time  to  read  more  regularly  and  con- 
stantly." 

This  course  he  continued  till  he  had  read  and  mastered  the 
whole  series.  No  one  took  more  delight  in  missionary  news, 
or  complained  more  bitterly  when  the  intelligence  was  meagre. 
He  thought  that  with  whole  boundless  continents  their  own, 
our  gifted  missionary  writers  might  oftener  get  beyond  the 
horn-book  of  the  Sunday-schools. 

"  January  19. — Mr.  Boyd  asked  my  opinion  of  Roy's  Hebrew  Lexi- 
con. I  told  him  that  the  specimens  which  I  had  seen  before  the  work 
was  published  were  exceedingly  absurd,  but  that  I  had  not  examined  the 
book  since."  Be  continued  the  reading  of  Baxter's  Christian  Directory, 
which  he  had  begun  long  before,  and  resumed  at  very  irregular  intervals. 
'■His  fervour,  plainness,  and  directness,"  he  records,  "are  inimitable." 
On  the  21st,  (Lord's  Day)  he  drank  tea  with  his  brother  James,  who  read 
him  some  passages  from  "Essays,  Sermons,  &c,"  by  Henry  Woodward, 
a  clergyman  from  Ireland,  "  characterized,  "  as  he  testifies,  "  by  piety, 
originality,  sober  wit,  independence,  and  a  charming  style  of  vigorous 
simplicity."  He  hoped  his  brother  would  review  it,  for  the  sake  of 
giving  extracts.     "  One  of  the  most  important  duties  of  the  religious 


432  DIARY.  [1838. 

press,  it  seems  to  me,  is  that  of  bringing  to  the  knowledge  of  our  pub- 
lic truly  valuable  matter  ab  extra."  He  heard  Dr.  Rice  preach  from 
"  They  that  are  whole  need  not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick." 
"first  letter  from  Malta  (Missionary  Herald,  1822,  page  179)  says,  'I 
write  you  in  much  haste,  and  you  will  not  forget  that  I  am  only  giving 
you  a  prima  facie  view  of  things  here.'  "Would  that  he  and  other  mis- 
sionaries would  continue  to  give  prima  facie  views,  instead  of  abridging 
road-books  and  geographies. 

"January  22. — The  "Watchman  of  the  South  to-day  contained  an 
extract  from  Dr.  Chalmers,  addressed  to  his  own  students  and  advising 
them  how  to  conduct  their  own  studies.  I  was  much  pleased  with  the 
whole  of  it,  but  most  with  what  he  says  about  the  critical  study  of  the 
English  Bible.  I  have  myself  been  thinking  of  a  lecture,  speech,  or 
article  on  that  same  subject,  and  may  hatch  it  before  long.* 

"January  25. — One  of  the  chief  pleasures  of  exegetical  study, 
when  rightly  conducted,  is  the  gradual  reduction  of  confusion  into  or- 
der, and  the  gradual  dawn  of  day  upon  the  darkness  of  the  text." 

"  January  26. — Received  a  letter  from  Rev.  John  0.  Brown,  a  grand- 
son of  Brown  of  Haddington,  and  now  a  missionary  at  St.  Petersburg, 
who  was  here  a  few  years  since,  and  was  then  requested  by  my  father  to 
enquire  whether  Persian  manuscripts  could  be  procured  there.  He 
writes  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Glenn,  Missionary  in  Persia,  would  gladly  aid 
us  in  procuring  anything  of  that  kind,  but  requests  me  to  send  a  list  of 
what  I  want,  and  what  I  am  willing  to  give,  promising  to  submit  it,  if 
I  choose,  before  he  forwards  it  to  Mr.  Glenn,  to  Mirra  Carim  Bey,  Ad- 
junct Professor  of  languages  (oriental)  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  considered 
"the  most  learned  Persian  in  Europe.  Such  commissions  have  frequent- 
ly been  given,  but  seldom  recollected  after  such  a  lapse  of  time,  even 
by  missionaries  of  our  own  church  and  country.  I  am  therefore  the 
more  indebted  to  Mr.  Brown's  kindness.  Received  the  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Chronicle  for  February.  It  is  now  conducted  on  an  excellent 
plan  (that  of  the  Church  Missionary  Register),  giving  a  general  view 
of  Protestant  Missions.  The  Herald  has  kept  all  missions  but  its  own 
too  much  in  the  dark. 

"January  27. — I  have  been  reading  lately  a  file  of  the 'Friend  of 
India,'  edited  by  John  C.  Marshman,son  of  the  Baptist  Missionary.  He 
was  educated  in  England ;  and  was  evidently  connected  with  the  public 
press  there,  probably  as  a  reporter.  This  appears  from  that  peculiar 
tact  and  style  for  which  the  regular  English  editors  are  so  distinguished. 

*  Here  we  have  the  germ  of  the  inaugural  address. 


Mr.  98.}  A    SERMON.  433 

The  paper  is  a  general  one,  not  exclusively  religious,  and  is  not  only 
conducted  in  an  admirable  spirit,  but  affords  the  best  views  of  East 
In  li,-i  affa'rs  that  I  have  ever  been  able  to  obtain.  I  have  read  it  with 
special  reference  to  the  controversy  respecting  the  expediency  of  print- 
ing oriental  books  in  Roman  letters,  on  which  subject  I  have  some  idea 
of  writing  a  review.*  The  papers  wore  lent  to  me  by  the  Rev.  John  C« 
Lowrie."     His  notion  of  Dickens  is  given  below  : 

'•  I  read  today  some  parts  of  the  last  volume  of  the  Pickwick  Club. 
The  author  I  have  long  regarded  as  possessed  of  an  original  vein  of 
humour,  and  an  unrivalled  talent  for  describing  personal  habits  and  ap- 
pearance. He  has  ruined  himself  here  by  undertaking  a  continuous 
story.  I  think  his  original  sketches  by  Boz  equal  to  all  the  Pickwick 
Club  together.  Mr.  Dod  returned  to-day  from  Philadelphia,  bringing 
a  new  edition  of  Bentley's  works,  Upham's  Mental  Philosophy,  and 
John  Aug.  Smith's  Discourse  against  Materialism." 

"January  29,  Lord's  day. — Heard  Dr.  Rice  preach  from  Rev.  ii,  25 — 
against  antinomianism.  (1)  What  have  Christians  already?  (2)  How 
must  they  hold  it  fast?  He  suggested  two  interpretations  which  were 
new  to  me :  one  was,  that  when  our  Lord  says  that  Abraham  desired  to 
see  his  day,  and  raw  it,  and  was  glad,  he  referred  to  the  trial  of  Abra- 
ham's faith,  (Gen.  xxii) ;  where  the  doctrine  of  vicarious  atonement  was 
taught  by  the  substitution  of  the  ram  for  Isaac.  This  thought  sug- 
gested one  to  me,  entirely  different,  viz.  that  this  trial  was  intended  to 
give  some  idea  of  God's  love  in  sending  his  own  Son  to  die  for  sinners. 
I  must  pursue  both  ideas  at  some  other  time.  The  other  interpretation 
new  to  me,  was  that  by  our  Lord's  being  glorified  in  his  saints,  and 
admired  in  his  believers,  we  are  to  understand  that  the  angels  who  at- 
tend him  at  his  coming,  unable  to  look  upon  the  brightness  of  his 
glory,  will  admire  it  as  reflected  in  his  people.  I  have  read  the  survey 
of  Protestant  Missions  in  the  last  two  numbers  of  the  Missionary 
Chronicle:  it  puts  a  new  face  upon  the  whole  matter.  Our  American 
Missionaries,  instead  of  being  every  thing,  are  but  a  fraction  of  this 
glorious  unit.  I  am  surprised  at  the  accumulation  of  missionary  effort 
in  South  Africa.  There  are  representatives  of  the  United  Brethren,  the 
London  M.  S.,  the  Glasgow  M.  S.,  the  Rhenish  M.  S.,  the  French  Pro- 
testant M.  S.,  the  American  Board,  the  American  Baptist  Board,  the 
Church  Missionary  Society,  and  the  Wesleyan  M.  S.     What  a  brilliant 

*  He  afterwards  wrote  copiously  on  this  subject.  See  article  in  the  Prince? 
ton  Repertory  on  Robinson's  &  Smith's  Palestine. 

19 


434  EXEGETICAL    STUDY*  [1838. 

constellation  !      There  are  three  missionary  families  in  as  many  ships, 
sent  by  our  Presbyterian  Board,  now  on  the  ocean  and  in  need  of  prayer. 

His  method  of  exegetical  study  is  thus  recorded : 

"Jan.  27.  I  have  been  studying  Ps.  lxxiii  to-day,  with  the  com- 
mentaries of  Le  ^Vette,  Eosenmtiller,  Klaus,  and  Ewald.  This,  I  think 
has  been  the  most  delightful  exegetical  investigation  I  have  made  (I 
do  not  mean  to-day's  work  only).  I  am  now  persuaded  that  I  greatly 
erred  in  making  it  a  rule  to  read  a  number  of  commentaries  through  con- 
secutively ;  in  consequence  of  which  I  felt  no  special  interest  in  any 
part,  and  was  scarcely  able  to  dis;inguish  the  hard  parts  from  the  eaay  ; 
and  although  I  was  glad  to  finish  my  task,  the  doing  of  it  was  more 
irksome  than  agreeable.  In  studying  this  Psalm  I  have  pursued 
another  method.  I  first  read  it  carefully  in  English  to  obtain  an  im- 
pression of  its  import  and  arrangement,  and  observe  what  passages 
appeared  obscure.  I  then  compared  the  English  with  the  Hebrew  to 
determine  how  far  the  former  seemed  to  need  correction.  By  this 
time,  one  or  two  verses  had  begun  to  stand  out  from  the  rest  as  specially 
difficult  and  interesting  (e.  g.  vv.  10  and  25),  while  others  appeared  so 
in  a  less  degree,  and  the  remainder  seemed  entirely  plain.  I  then  com- 
pared the  four  ancient  versions — Greek,  Latin,  Chaldee,  Syriao  :  first  on 
the  more,  then  on  the  less,  perplexing  passages;  during  which  process 
several  new  modes  of  explication  started  into  view.  I  then  'read  Cal- 
vin and  Cocceius  on  the  same  parts ;  then  De  Wette  and  Rosenmuller ; 
then  Klaus  and  Ewald.  Before  I  finished  this  course,  I  felt  a  curiosity 
and  interest  almost  intense  "with  respect  to  the  meaning  of  the  obscure 
parts,  which  feeling  effectually  precluded  that  of  weariness.  I  believe 
that  I  have  also  been  too  much  in  the  habit  of  writing  while  actually 
studying  a  passage.  This  not  only  broke  the  train  of  thought,  but  kept 
me  uneasy  through  the  fear  of  losing  something  which  I  ought  to  note 
down.  On  the  other  hand,  I  find  that  my  memory  commonly  retains 
every  suggestion  worih  remembering,  and  when  I  have  to  look  back 
for  something  I  forget,  the  repeated  reference  is  really  an  advantage." 

The  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  met  on  Tuesday,  the  7th 
of  February.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Comfort,  of  Kingston,  preached  the 
sermon.  There  was  a  large  attendance.  The  event  of  interest 
was  the  reception  of  Mr.  Alexander  under  the  care  of  Presby- 
tery, after  an  examination  pro  forma.  The  adjournment  was 
to  the  second  Tuesday  in  August ;  the  meeting  to  be  at  New 


^Et.28.]  A    CANDIDATE.  435 

Brunswick.  The  tidings  from  every  quarter  were  of  awakenings 
and  revivals.  Philadelphia,  New- York,  Pennington,  and  other 
places,  were  much  stirred.  The  conversazione  on  the  14th  was 
at  Professor  Stephen  Alexander's.  The  sound  of  sleighbells 
might  be  heard  late  at  night,  and  the  merry  ring  of  laughter 
from  the  young  people  who  were  pleasure- taking. 

Mr.  Alexander  thus  refers  to  his  own  connection  with  the 
Presbytery  : 

"February  7.  This  day  I  was  received  under  the  care  of  the  New 
Brunswick  Presbytery  as  a  candidate  for  license.  Quod  felix  faus- 
tunique  sit !  Sine  te,  Dornine,  nil  possum !  This  is  the  first  step  toward 
the  execution  of  a  purpose  which  I  formed  eight  years  ago."  * 

The  same  day  Dr.  Yeomans  called  upon  him  to  borrow  a 
number  of  the  Christian  Baptist  Review,  intending  to  write 
on  the  Bible  translation  controversy,  about  which  he  and  Mr. 
Alexander  had  some  talk. 

Here  is  a  continuation  of  the  journal : 

"  Feb.  11.  Dr.  Miller  brought  me  an  article  which  he  has  written 
for  the  Review,  on  Henry's  Christian  Antiquities,  which  I  am  to  revise 
and  complete  in  some  way. 

"Feb.  15.  The  exercises  of  the  Seminary  recommenced.  I  have 
been  busy  all  day  preparing  articles  for  the  Review.  Finished  the  ar- 
ticle on  Christian  Antiquities,  and  continued  my  own  on  Nordheimer's 
Grammar. 

"  Feb.  IV.  I  finished  a  review  of  the  first  part  of  Nordh  earner's  He- 
brew Grammar  and  laid  it  aside  until  I  get  the  rest. 

"  Feb.  22.  This  being  the  day  set  apart  for  prayer  in  behalf  of  Col- 
lege?, Dr.  Miller  preached  a  sermon  in  the  church  from  Job  ii,  4,  5. 
Chiefly  remarkable  for  a  severe  denunciation  of  those  persons  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  Colleges,  and  particularly  here,  who  for  the  sake  of 
gain  encourage  the  students  in  vice,  and  even  tempt  them  to  it.  At- 
tended a  prayer-meeting  in  the  church  at  night ;  Dr.  Rice  made  an  ad- 
dress. 

"  Feb.  24.  Received  an  article  from  Mr.  Dod  on  India  as  a  mission- 
ary field,  by  John  C.  Lowrie,  lately  a  missionary  to  Lodiana.     I  sent 

*  And  consequently  while  he  was  tutorial  professor  in  the  college,  and  not 
lonp;  after  the  time  of  his  conversion. 


436  BEGGARS.  [1838. 

some  time  ago  for  the  remainder  of  Nordheimer's  Hebrew  Grammar, 
and  yesterday  it  arrived  by  mail  charged  with  four  dollars  postage. 
Finished  my  article  '  On  Naming  Places,'  and  sent  it  to  the  Southern 
Literary  Messenger.  The  first  article  of  ten  for  the  Princeton  Review 
(next  number)  is  in  type ;  it  is  on  Henry's  Christian  Antiquities  :  the 
second  (on  Eoberts's  Embassy)  is  also  in  the  printer's  hands :  a  third  was 
received  to-day  (on  India)  :  and  a  fourth  on  Nordheimer's  Hebrew  Gram- 
mar ;  a  fifth  on  Tyndall's  ISTew  Testament ;  a  sixth  on  Phrenology  ;  a 
seventh  on  the  Baptist  Bible-translation  controversy;  and  an  eighth  on 
the  State  of  the  Church,  are  nearly  ready. 

"Feb.  25.  Heard  my  father  preach  from  Psalm  ii,  12.  'Blessed 
are  all  they  that  put  their  trust  in  him.'  God  oftentimes  leaves  his 
children  to  conflict  with  doubts  and  temptations  all  their  lives,  be- 
cause spiritual  comfort  would  betray  them  into  self-complacency  and 
spiritual  pride.  The  reason  we  are  unhappy  even  under  a  sense  of  sin 
is  because  we  cannot  trust.  Finished  the  Missionary  Herald  for  1827. 
There  is  a  pleasing  alternation  in  the  yjterest  of  the  different  missions. 
As  the  Sandwich  Island  Mission  becomes  settled  and  establi.-hed,  the 
Palestine  Mission  becomes  highly  interesting. 

"  Feb.  26.  Received  the  remainder  of  Nordheimer's  Grammar  and 
completed  my  review." 

Wednesday,  the  28th  of  February,  the  Club  met  at  Dr. 
George  Maclean's.  Mr.  Alexander  this  day  received  a  charm- 
ing letter  from  the  grammarian  Nordheimer. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  four  English  beggars  were  on  the 
tramp  through  Princeton.  If  strollers  called  at  the  door  of  Mr. 
Addison  Alexander,  they  were  either  eagerly  admitted  or  else 
abruptly  dismissed.  Sometimes  he  invited  them  in  of  his  own 
accord,  and  picked  up  much  useful  and  amusing  information 
from  the  wretched  vagabonds.  He  was  especially  pleased  if  they 
were  from  continental  Eui-ope  and  spoke  a  foreign  language. 
He  was  amused  at  their  contradictory  stories,  and  often  imitated 
their  incredible  relations  in  his  tales  to  children.*     He  kept  at 

*  He  used  to  tell  a  story  about  a  wifeless  and  childless  beggarman  (whom 
he  would  personate)  that  had.  together  with  his  consort  and  offspring,  passed 
through  some  surprising  adventures;  having  been  blown  up  in  an  earthquake, 
shipwrecked  in  a  volcano,  etc.,  etc.  Compare  this  with  Charles  Lamb's  closing 
words  in  his  "  Complaint  of  the  Decay  of  Beggars." 


Mr.  28.] 


GROWTH   IN   GRACE.  437 


one  time  alarse  volume  in  which  he  recorded  their  histories  and 
imaginary  escapes,  and  which  he  styled  the  "  Book  of  Beg- 
gars." *  At  another  time  he  kept  a  boy  posted  at  the  door 
with  directions  to  slam  it  in  their  faces  after  giving  them  a  few 
cents.  In  Ireland  and  among  the  Alps  these  creatures  only 
tormented  him,  and  he  could  hardly  rid  himself  of  their  filthy 
company  by  talking  Persian  and  Arabic  at  them  and  making 
impassive  gestures  which  seemed  to  show  that  he  Mas  a 
traveller  from  some  strange  country  and  unacquainted  with 
the  tongues  of  the  Continent  or  of  Great  Britain.  A  single 
extract  from  his  journal  will  illustrate  the  way  in  which  he 
derived  information  from  wandering  mendicants. 

'  Talked  French  to  a  Spanish  priest  from  Mexico  and  gave  him  an 
alms.  He  gave  me  an  account  of  the  way  in  which  he  preached.  He 
says  that  it  is  customary  in  Catholic  countries  to  preach  sermons  out  of 
printed  books,  and  that  another  priest  usually  sits  below  the  preacher 
and  prompts  him.     Very  few,  he  says,  make  sermons  de  la  Ute? 

The  next  record  he  makes  seems  to  show  plainly  that  he 
was  making  advances  in  the  Divine  life. 

"March  11.  I  have  experienced  to-day  a  new  religious  impulse 
leading  me  to  take  delight  in  the  reading  of  the  Scripture-1,  in  prayer, 
and  in  the  ordinances  of  God's  house,  and  dispelling  the  guilty  gloom 
which  has,  for  some  time,  brooded  over  me.  The  Lord  preserve  me 
from  delusion  !  I  have  renewed  my  vows  and  here  record  the  fact." 

His  studies  went  on  pretty  much  in  the  usual  way. 

A  few  days  after  this,  he  finished  Deuteronomy  again,  hav 
ing  read  it  in  Hebrew,  comparing  the  English  version  and  De 
Wette's   German.     He   has   now,  •.  e.  by  the  14th,   read  the 
Pentateuch  again  in  Hebrew  since  the  beginning  of  the  year. 

The  entries  which  follow  may  serve  as  examples  of  all. 

"  March  14, 1838.  Attended  the  conversazione  at  Dr.  Rice's ;  Present 
Drs.  Miller,  Rice,  and  Torrey ;  Professors  Maclean,  Dod,  J.  "W.  Alex- 

*  Doubtless  with  remembrance  of  the  eccentric  volume  to  which  Luther 
condescended  to  write  a  preface  or  introduction. 


438  SCRIPTURE    READING.  [1838. 

ander,  LTenry,  J.  A.  Alexander,  S.  Alexander ;  Tutor  Cooley.  Dr. 
Torrey  exhibited  some  specimens  of  the  metal  magnesium,  which  he 
converted  into  magnesia  by  burning.  The  next  meeting  is  to  be  at 
Professor  Maclean's. 

"  March  20,  1838.  Received  as  a  present  from  tbe  American  Sun- 
day School  Union  a  copy  of  their  new  Bible  Dictionary,  elegantly 
bound.  Received  at  the  same  time  a  number  of  English  papers  of 
December  and  January ;  saw  a  letter  to  my  father  from  our  former 
pupil,  Professor  S.  B.  Jones  of  Oakland  College.  Another  old  pupil  of 
ours  is  now  in  Princeton,  the  Reverend  Geo.  Burrowes,  of  Port  Deposit, 
Maryland,  who  graduated  here  in  1832,  and  was  afterward  a  tutor  in 
the  College  and  a  student  in  the  Seminary.  Received  to-day  a  copy  of 
a  new  book  on  the  Limits  of  Human  Responsibility,  by  Dr.  Wayland. 

"  March  23.     Finished  the  Book  of  Joshua  again." 

He  then  announces  another  change  of  programme  : 

"I  have  reluctantly  determined  to  suspend  my  rule  of  scriptural 
reading  by  a  calendar,  and  to  adopt  another  method.  I  find  that  it  is 
too  much  of  a  task  at  present,  and  that  it  does  not  answer  any  useful 
purpose,  to  read  just  so  much  without  regard  to  the  difficulty  or  import- 
ance of  the  passage.  I  propose  to  begin  Romans  and  Judges,  on  the 
plan  of  reading  everything  attentively  and  more  than  once  ;  the  quantity 
to  be  determined  by  the  time.  If  I  do  not  like  the  method,  I  can  return 
at  any  time  to  my  calendar,  which  is  made  out  to  the  end  of  the  year. 

"  March  24.  Drank  tea  and  spent  the  evening  with  my  brother. 
Looked  at  the  new  Nova  Scotian  jeu  (Vesprit — Sam  Slick.  It  is  much 
superior  to  Jack  Downing ;  less  exaggerated,  and  constructed  for  a  defi- 
nite moral  purpose.  It  must  be  a  great  treat  to  John  Bull.  I  have 
formed  two  new  plans  to-day.  One  is,  to  reduce  my  diet,  both  in  quan- 
tity and  quality ;  with  a  view  to  intellectual  and  moral  effect.  The 
other  is,  to  suspend  my  commentary  on  Isaiah  and  write  a  popular  analy- 
sis instead.  This  might  excite  an  interest  in  the  prophet  and  prepare 
the  way  for  detailed  exposition ;  though,  in  my  opinion,  analysis  is 
three-fourths  of  the  exposition  wanted." 


CHAPTER  XIY 

The  beginning  of  the  career  of  such  a  preacher  as  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir  is  commonly  admitted  to  have  been,  is  an 
event  that  will  be  approached  with  a  quickened  interest  on  the 
part  of  the  reader  who  is  inquisitive  as  to  the  sources  of  the 
young  minister's  power.  Great  attention  was  of  course  paid 
to  the  rumour  that  Mr.  Alexander,  who  though  he  had  so  long: 
occupied  one  of  the  chairs  of  a  school  of  theology  had  not 
yet  entered  the  pulpit,  was  to  be  carried  through  the  usual 
course  of  inten-ogations  and  formally  authorized  to  preach 
that  good  news  with  his  lips  which  he  already  published  by 
his  example.  His  diai'ies  disclose  the  fact,  that  his  own  spirit- 
ual exercises  in  prospect  of  this  crisis  were  profound  and 
humble.  The  church  court  before  which  he  expected  to  ap- 
pear was  holding  its  sessions  but  a  few  miles  off,  at  Lawrence- 
ville.  He  accordingly  made  no  delay,  but  accepted  the  offer 
of  Dr.  Benjamin  II.  Rice  and  rode  over  to  the  little  village 
where,  after  the  preliminary  trials,  he  was,  on  the  25th  of  April, 
duly  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Brunswick  as  a  pro- 
bationer for  the  Gospel  Ministry.  The  following  account  of 
the  proceedings  is  from  his  journal.  It  will  be  perused  with 
gratification  by  such  as  desire  to  be  minutely  informed  as  to  all 
the  particulars  relating  to  the  affair,  as  it  were  from  the  lips  of 
the  person  himself  .most  deeply  interested  in  the  issue  of  the 
business. 

On  the  25th  of  April  he  records : 

"Dr.  Rice  called  for  me  with  his  carriage  at  8  o'clock,  and  I  went 
with  him  to  Lawrence,*  where  we  found  the  Presbytery  sitting  in  Mr. 

*  A  familiar  abbreviation. 


440  AS    A    PREACHER.  0838. 

Hammill's  schoolhouse.  I  then  read  my  exegesis  De  Sacrificiis,  my 
cri  ical  exercise  on  Gen.  xlix,  8-12,  and  my  lecture  on  Micah  iv,  1- 
5 ;  and  was  examined  on  Theology  hy  Mr.  Perkins,  on  Church  History 
hy  Dr.  Eice,  and  on  Church  Government  and  the  Sacraments  by  Dr. 
Miller.  "We  then  repaired  to  the  church  where  I  delivered  my  ssrmon 
on  John  iii,  36.  Dr.  Miller  and  Mr.  Dod  were  in  the  pulpit  with  me. 
The  latter  read  the  hymns  and  made  both  prayers.  "We  then  descended 
from  the  pulpit.  I  answered  the  constitutional  questions  and  was 
licensed." 

This  is  the  whole  of  the  simple  narrative.  He  has  pre- 
served his  "  Latin  exegesis  "  (as  it  is  absurdly  called)  in  one 
of  his  manuscript  books.  There  is  nothing  specially  notice- 
able about  it,  except  that  it  is  short,  and  in  a  very  different 
style  from  Turretin's. 

The  advent  of  the  young  preacher  created  a  decided  sen- 
sation among  the  ministers  as  well  as  the  mass  of  ordinary 
hearers.  The  venerable  President  Green  heartily  said  that  he 
was  "  orthodox."  Other  dignified  and  famous  clergymen, 
men  who  were  not  easily  driven  from  their  self-possession, 
were  heard  to  echo  this  sentiment  and  to  express  themselves 
in  the  language  of  unbounded  eulogy.  In  the  midst  of  this 
commotion  there  was  one  at  least  who,  though  deeply  inter- 
ested in  what  was  going  on,  was  not  at  all  excited  and  was 
as  simple  as  a  child  in  the  expression  of  such  feelings  as  he 
had.     This  was  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander. 

A  member  of  the  senior  class  of  1838,  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  happy  father  received  the 
news  that  his  son  had  preached  his  first  sermon. 

i;  It  was  while  I  was  at  the  Seminary  that  he  was  licensed  to 
preach.  The  interest  excited  by  his  first  sermon  was  very  great,  as 
yon  know,  both  in  Princeton  and  in  the  cities.  I  happened  to  be  in  Dr. 
Alexander's  p.-irlour  one  Monday  evening,  after  Addison  had  preached 
the  day  before  for  tiie  first  time  in  New-York,  when  a  lady  from  New- 
York  who  had  just  arrived  came  into  the  room.  She  begin  at  once  to 
tell  of  Addison's  preaching,  and  the  great  interest  it  had  excited." 
The  venerable  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  was  present,  and  was  greatly 
animated  by  what  he  heard.     These  were  tidings  he  had  long  wished 


Mr.  29.]  DR.    RAMSEY  S   ESTIMATE.  441 

and  expected  to  hear  about  his  son.  No  one  had  ever  better  ganged 
the  young  man's  capacity.  But  he  had  doubts  on  one  point :  and  that 
was  his  voice.  He  feared  he  could  not  be  heard  in  a  large  church. 
How  natural  and  affecting  the  picture  that  is  brought  before  us  by  Dr. 
Ramsey ! 

"  I  well  remember,"  be  says,  "  how  eagerly  the  good  old  man 
listened  and  enquired,  and  how  delighted  he  seemed.  '  Did  he  speak 
loud  enough? '  he  asked,  'I  was  afraid  Addison  would  not  speak  loud 
enough.' " 

Dr:  Ramsey  continues  that  he  himself  always  loved  to  hear 
him,  and  never  heard  him  without  profit. 

"You  know  that  everybody  rejoiced  to  listen  to  him,  that  could 
appreciate  God's  truth  declared,  illustrated  and  enforced,  by  all  that 
genius,  learning,  and  simple,  forcible,  transparent  diction,  which  in 
him  were  so  remarkably  combined.  It  seems  to  me  you  will  not  find 
it  a  very  easy  task  to  characterize  his  preaching.  I  could  not  do  it. 
It  was  so  endlessly  varied.  At  one  time,  brilliant,  dazzling,  overwhelm- 
ing; at  another  so  plain  as  to  be  almost  without  an  illustration,  ex- 
cept of  the  simplest  kind,  yet  deeply  interesting;  at  another,  severely 
exegetical  so  as  to  be,  in  the  estimation  of  many,  dry.  Did  he  ever,  do 
you  suppose,  compose  two  sermons  on  any  one  plan?  It  seems  to  me 
that  his  two  volumes  of  sermons  are  enough  to  show  how  the  church 
has  suffered  by  Procrustean  rules  for  sermonizing,  by  making  the  ser- 
mon a  thing  so  different  from  every  other  kind  of  composition,  except 
in  its  being  an  exposition  of  God's  word. 

"The  power  of  perfectly  natural  intonations  in  delivery  was  shown 
very  fully  by  his  preaching.  Eeading,  as  he  did  generally  when  I  heard 
him,  quite  closely  and  with  scarcely  a  gesture,  he  thus  always  managed 
to  secure  attention,  and  to  hold  it  to  the  end  without  weariness  either 
to  himself  or  his  auditor.  His  tones,  almost  as  much  as  his  words, 
contributed  to  the  strange  art  by  which  he  was  wont  to  cause  his 
thoughts  to  be  immediately  apprehended  by  the  hearer." 

Among  those  who  listened  to  his  first  discourse  after  licen- 
sure was  one  who  has  never  ceased  to  cherish  a  glowing  sen- 
timent of  admiration  for  the  genius  and  piety  of  Mr.  Alexan- 
19* 


442  FIRST    SERMON.  [1838. 

der,  and  who  has  associated  his  own  name  with  Christian 
authorship.* 

"It  was  my  good  fortune,"  he  writes,  "  to  hear  the  first  sermon  he 
preached  on  being  licensed  by  the  Presbytery.  It  was  in  the  Prince- 
ton Church,  before  a  crowded  auditory  composed  of  the  faculty  and 
students  of  the  Seminary  and  College,  with  all  the  principal  families 
of  the  village,  who  were  attracted  to  hear  the  first  effort  of  the  learned 
Professor  in  what  had  heen  to  him,  till  then,  the  untried  art  of  public 
speaking.  His  success  was  perfect.  He  went  through  the  whole  ser- 
vice with  an  ease,  self-possession,  propriety,  and  solemnity  which  would 
seem  to  have  marked  a  preacher  of  many  years.  That  first  sermon 
established  his  reputation  as  an  attractive  popular  preacher,  aud  from 
that  time  forward  it  needed  only  to  be  known  that  he  would  preach  to 
fill  any  bouse  of  worship  in  Princeton  with  the  elite  of  the  place."  t 

*  The  Rev.  Professor  L.  I.  Halsey,  D.D.,  of  the  Seminary  of  the  Northwest, 
the  biographer  of  Lindsley,  and  the  author  of  "  Literary  Attractions  of  the 
Bible." 

f  In  a  series  of  letters  to  the  Northwestern  Presbyterian,  on  the  great 
preachers  of  the  lust  quarter  of  the  century,  the  same  writer  thus  refers  to 
this  peculiarity  of  Mr.  Alexander's  modes  of  preaching: 

"As  a  preacher  he  possessed  endowments  of  the  highest  order,  and  he  was 
equally  successful  in  whatever  style  he  chose  to  deliver  the  sermon.  He  could 
enchain  the  attention  of  an  audience  when  he  read  his  discourse  closely  from 
a  manuscript,  with  scarcely  more  gesture  than  was  necessary  to  turn  the  pages; 
and  he  could  thrill  and  electrify  the  same  audience,  when  without  aline  before 
him,  he  poured  out  a  swelling  and  magnificent  stream  of  thought  with  all  the 
fervid  animation  of  the  most  impassioned  delivery.  From  the  time  he  was 
licensed,  he  took  his  position,  as  it  were  by  a  single  bound,  among  the  most 
admired  and  powerful  preachers  of  the  times ;  and  his  services  were  in  con- 
stant demand,  not  only  in  the  pulpit  at  Princeton  and  its  vicinity,  but  in  the 
largest  and  most  intelligent  congregations  of  New- York  and  Philadelphia." 

It  is  in  connection  with  his  account  of  this  sermon,  that  Dr.  Halsey  in- 
troduces the  following  passage  into  his  "  Distinguished  Preachers  of  the  Last 
Forty  Years:  " 

"  Nothing  could  exceed  the  rapidity,  energy,  force  and  fire  of  his  impas- 
sioned delivery.  At  times  it  was  like  a  rising  flood ;  it  was  a  sweeping,  on- 
rushing,  impetuous  torrent.  And  yet  it  was  always  free  from  any  approach  to 
extravagance  or  verbiage.  It  was  the  lightning  of  thought.  It  was  the  heavy 
artillery  of  truth.  It  was  the  eloquence  which  combined  the  four  elements  of 
original,  stirring  thought,  brilliant  diction,  maguificent  imagery,  and  a  soul  in 


Mt.  29.]  DIVERSITY   OF    METHODS.  443 

It  was  no  doubt  painfully  embarrassing  to  the  young  Pro- 
fessor to  deliver  that  sermon.  It  was  an  experiment  even  to 
himself.  He  had  always  low  views  of  his  fitness  and  calling  as  a 
preacher.  He  thought  his  proper  place  was  in  the  chair.  In 
this  he  resembled  his  old  preceptor  Lindsley,  and  like  him  was 
strangely  ignorant  that  perhaps  "his  forte  was  his  magnificent 
preaching." 

One  of  the  first  things  about  his  pulpit  efforts  that  attracted 
general  notice,  was  the  diversity  of  his  methods.  The  unex- 
ampled variety  in  the  plans  of  his  sermons  and  the  modes  of 
his  delivery  of  them,  struck  everybody  who  heard  them.  There 
was,  however,  a  rich  peculiarity  of  thought  and  diction  in  all 
of  them.  The  gentleman  just  quoted,  who  heard  him  constantly 
at  this  period,  testifies : 

"  From  the  first  his  style  of  preaching  was  unique  and  original — I 
should  rather  say  his  styles  of  preaching;  for  I  have  never  heard  any 
one  preach  in  so  many  different  ways  as  marked  his  manner  during 
these  first  years  of  his  ministry.  His  services  were  in  great  demand, 
and  he  preached  often,  hoth  in  the  Church  and  the  Seminary  Chapel, 
besides  being  frequently  called  to  New-York  and  Philadelphia.  At 
times  he  appeared  in  the  pulpit  without  a  line  of  manuscript,  and  de- 
livered what  seemed  an  unwritten  discourse,  teeming  with  profound 
and  striking  thought  and  brilliant  imagery,  with  a  precision  and  wealth 
of  diction  which  nothing  could  exceed,  and  with  all  the  impassioned 
animation  and  ardor  of  an  extemporaneous  orator.  At  other  times  he 
would  place  his  manuscript  of  large  size  pnper  on  the  pulpit  desk  and 
read  it  without  indeed  appearing  to  read  it,  turning  the  pages  as  ho 
advanced,  but  no  more  trammelled  or  constrained  as  to  gesture,  look,  or 
voice  by  the  paper  than  if  he  had  been  preaching  without  notes.  Then 
again  I  have  seen  him  stand  in  the  pulpit  and  preach,  reading  from  a 
little  sermon-book  which  he  held  up  in  both  hands,  going  through  the 
entire  discourse  without  a  gesture,  or  a  look  at  the  audience,  while  every 
eye  was  fixed  upon  him,  and  the  attention  of  every  hearer  riveted  by 

earnest.  "Without  any  thing  of  what  would  be  called  the  graces  of  manner, 
or  the  attitudes  of  oratory,  lie  had  the  very  essentials  of  true  and  powerful 
pulpit  eloquence  in  the  truth  he  uttered,  in  the  words  and  images  with  which 
he  clothed  it,  and  in  the  ardour  of  his  delivery." 


444  TRUE    ELOQUENCE.  0888. 

the  perfect  articulation  and  emphasis  of  his  voice,  and  tho  exceeding 
richness  and  originality  of  his  matter." 

The  effect  was  the  same  under  all  these  various  methods. 

"It  mattered  not  in  which  of  these  methods  lie  preached.  He  was 
always  interesting,  and  at  times  sublime  and  thrilling.  I  could  scarcely 
say  in  which  of  the  styles  I  admired  him  most.  I  never  heard  any 
preacher  who  seemed  to  me  so  completely  independent  of  all  the  aids 
of  external  method.  In  every  method  alike  he  poured  out  the  richest 
treasures  of  Gospel  truth.  With  him  the  form  seemed  to  be  nothing. 
In  every  style  it  was  the  eloquence  of  brilliant  imagery,  of  powerful 
thought,  of  rich  and  choice  diction,  of  impassioned  feeling.  I  never 
heard  any  preacher  who  seemed  so  little  indebted  to  the  rules  of  rhe- 
torical art,  or  rather  so  fully  the  creator  and  master  of  his  own  art.  In 
this  respect  he  was  a  law  unto  himself.  It  would  be  difficult  to  say 
which  was  the  most  remarkable  characteristic  of  his  preaching:  the 
fervor  of  his  own  spiritual  emotion,  the  grand  movement  of  his 
thought,  his  magnificent  imagery,  or  masterly  command  of  language. 
His  diction  was  at  once  simple,  chaste,  ornate,  copious,  and  forcible. 
It  was  perfectly  radiant  with  thought,  luminous  with  flashes  of  imagi- 
nation, and  surcharged  with  feeling.  Though  he  always  spoke  with 
clear  and  distinct  articulation,  his  words  flowed  with  great  rapidity, 
indicating  the  quick  and  powerful  movement  of  his  mind.  I  cannot 
recall  a  single  instance  in  which  he  ever,  either  in  the  pulpit  or  lec- 
ture-room, hesitated  a  moment  for  a  word,  or  failed  to  get  the  right 
one;  although  his  utterance  on  all  occasions  was  remarkable  for  its  ra- 
pidity. His  reading  of  the  Scriptures  was  also  marked  by  the  same 
rapid  and  yet  distinct  articulation.  This  power  of  expression,  both  by 
the  tongue  and  the  pen,  was  but  the  natural  exponent  of  the  clear  and 
powerful  intellect  with  which  the  Almighty  had  endowed  him." 

He  was  now,  of  course,  busier  than  ever  as,  in  addition  to 
his  usual  engagements,  he  immediately  took  to  writing  sermous, 
and  was  continually  in  request  as  a  preacher.  His  valuable 
aid  was  greatly  sought  after,  especially  by  churches  in  New- 
Jersey  and  Philadelphia ;  and  the  eloquent  licentiate  was  not 
at  all  unwilling  to  oblige  his  friends  and  serve  his  Master  by 
speaking  to  sinners  of  the  joys  and  wonders  and  dangers  con- 
nected with  redemption. 


Mr.  29.]  TRAVELLING.  445 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1838,  the  cautious  scholar  wrote  a  letter 
to  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Seminary,  ac- 
cepting the  Professorship  to  which  he  had  been  appointed  by 
the  assembly  of  1835.  The  Directors  on  receiving  his  accept- 
ance resolved,  that  he  should  be  inaugurated  at  their  next 
meeting,  which  would  occur  in  September,  and  that  he  should 
pronounce  an  inaugural  address.  Dr.  Spring  was  appointed 
to  deliver  the  charge  to  the  Professor. 

During  parts  of  April,  May,  June,  August,  and  September, 
he  was  travelling  ;  chiefly  to  and  from  points  between  Prince- 
ton and  Washington.  He  took  several  extensive  tours  and 
many  short  rambles.  He  was  at  various  times  at  Philadel- 
phia, Wilmington,  Baltimore,  and  the  Federal  Capital.  Some- 
times he  was  alone,  and  sometimes  accompanied  by  one  otfhis 
brothers.  His  longest  sojourns  were  at  Philadelphia.  I 
have  found  among  his  papers  minute  accounts  of  the  little 
humdrum  incidents  of  these  excursions,  stating  the  events  of 
each  day  with  a  precision  and  uniformity  that  would  exhaust 
the  patience  of  the  reader.  The  truth  was,  his  pleasure  lay 
mainly  in  the  substitution  of  other  scenes  and  associations  for 
those  to  which  he  was  daily  accustomed,  the  rapid  transit 
from  city  to  city,  and  the  agreeable  alternation  of  travel  by 
water  and  travel  by  land.*  Nothing  of  lively  interest  oc- 
curred to  vary  the  essential  monotony  of  these  ever  shifting 
and  never  changing  diversions.  But  few  extracts  from  this 
narrative  need  be  given  here.  In  the  intervals  he  was  as  busy 
as  at  any  other  time. 

When  in  Philadelphia,  where  he  was  thoroughly  at  home, 
he  commonly  put  up  at  the  public  house  known  as  Sander- 
son's ;  walked  hither  and  thither  in  search  of  small  adven- 
tures (that  would  have  been  adventures  to  nobody  else)  on 
the  streets,  and  made  necessary  or  trivial  purchases  at  the 

*  "  He  unconscious  whence  the  bliss, — 
Feels    .     .     . 

That  all  the  circling  joys  are  his, 
Of  dear  vicissitude." 

Gray.     (Little,  Brown  &  Co.,  1853,  p.  128.) 


446  PREACHING.  [1838. 

shops.  On  Sunday,  when  he  was  not  engaged  to  preach  him- 
self, he  went  to  hear  some  one  or  other  of  the  city  pastors,  or 
strangers  who  were  advertised  in  the  newspapers.  Now  and 
then  he  fell  in  with  an  acquaintance ;  and  though  avoiding  obser- 
vation and  recognition  as  much  as  possible,  indulged  in  a  good 
deal  of  casual  intercourse  with  old  and  new  friends,  and  ap- 
peared at  times  to  enjoy  these  wayside  encounters  with  no 
little  zest. 

Dr.  Joseph  H.  Jones  has  told  me  that  he  could  scarcely 
ever  get  a  glimpse  of  the  ubiquitous  linguist ;  of  whose  society 
he  was  very  fond  and  whose  memory  he  holds  in  exalted  esti- 
mation. The  same  is  true,  without  doubt,  of  the  majority  o  f 
his  Philadelphia  confreres. 

In  addition  to  these  journeys  taken  commonly  without 
definite  object  and,  as  it  were,  with  malice  prepense,  he  was 
constantly  going  ofF  somewhere  to  preach.  He  was  invited 
hither  and  thither;  had  his  bag  full  of  fresh  sermons  (the  best  in 
a  popular  point  of  view  that  he  ever  wrote) ;  was  in  the  luxu- 
riant bloom  of  his  bodily,  mental,  and  emotional  powers ;  and 
was  ready  and  even  eager,  on  all  fit  occasions,  to  make  full 
proof  of  his  ministry  and  to  preach  "  the  glorious  Gospel  of 
the  blessed  God."  He  astonished  and  enraptured  the  best 
minds  and  the  warmest  hearts  of  every  assembly  over  which 
he  threw  the  spell  of  his  glittering  eye  and  thrilling  accents; 
and  many  a  hardened  sinner  was  made  to  feel  his  guilt  and 
danger,  and  to  see  the  ample  provision  that  had  been  made 
for  his  salvation.  His  own  soul  often  took  fire  under  these  awak- 
ening influences,  and  his  voice  rang  out  as  sweet  and  passionate 
as  the  note  of  a  bugle. 

He  was  in  Washington  on  the  9th  of  May,  with  one  of  his 
brothers.     He  records  : 

"  After  tea  we  walked  through  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  and  found 
the  village  (city)  very  dismal.  It  is  a  mere  collection  of  suhurbs 
without  any  urbs,  or  as  James  describes  it,  a  moderate  town  pulled 
out  like  India-rubber  to  make  it  big.  It  has  all  the  discomforts  of  a 
city,  with  few  of  its  comforts.  What  a  mistake  it  was  to  leave  Phila- 
delphia for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  central  city  which  is  now  far  less 


^Et.29.]  views   OF   THE   DISRUPTION.  447 

central  to  the  twenty-six  States  than  Philadelphia  then  was  to  the  old 
thirteen — a  great  city  without  commerce  or  government  munificence! 
What  a  chimera. 

"  Wednesday,  May  16.  I  had  intended  to  go  to-day,  but  as  I  hear  I 
can  reach  Philadelphia  to-morrow  before  2  o'clock,  and  as  Hoffman 
has  the  floor  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  I  have  determined  to  re- 
main one  day  longer.  I  did.  remain  accordingly,  and.  heard  Ogden 
Hoffman,  who  was  interrupted,  or  answered  by  Rhett,  Legare,  and 
Waddy  Thompson.  I  also  heard.  J.  W.  Jones  of  Virginia,  and  Henry 
A.  Wise  in  reply." 

The  spring  had  been  very  tardy  in  its  advances.  May  was 
more  Kke  one  of  the  earlier  vernal  months.  The  weather,  how- 
ever, was  soft  and  balmy,  after  a  period  of  unseasonable  cold. 
From  Philadelphia  came  the  important  tidings  on  the  18th, 
that  the  General  Assembly  was  divided,  and  that  the  new- 
school  party  had  seceded.  Dr.  Plumer  was  moderator  of  the 
old  assembly,  and  Dr.  Fisher  of  the  new.  These  were  excit- 
ing times,  and  Mr.  Alexander  took  a  deep  and  lively  interest 
in  them,  and  kept  himself  informed  of  all  the  ecclesiastical 
movements ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  entered  actively 
into  the  controversy.  His  ecclesiastical  life  dates  from  the 
disruption  of  the  church.  He  sided  heartily  with  the  old- 
school  incumbents.  The  article  condemning  the  Exodus  of 
the  new  school-  men  came  out  during  his  editorship  of  the 
Repertory,  but  was  not  written  by  him.  No  man  was  more 
strictly  old  fashioned  on  all  .points  of  doctrine,  and  on  most 
points  of  policy.  Whatever  were  his  views,  none  could  call 
in  question  his  honesty  or  independence,  or  his  courage.  As- 
sured in  his  own  conscience,  he  was.  indifferent  to  censure, 
and  laughed  at  intimidation.  It  had  been  as  easy  to  govern 
John  Knox  or  Martin  Luther. 

On  Lord's  Day,  May  20th,  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander 
preached  one  of  the  most  eloquent  sermons  ever  heard  in 
Princeton,  on  the  text,  Sin  no  more.  He  awakened  the  cold 
and  somewhat  academic  audience  as  he  had  done  the  warm 
assemblies  in  his  youth.  His  hearers  were  deeply  impressed. 
Not  long  after  this,  his  old  teacher  Mr.  Baird  was  in  town, 


448  m   BOSTON.  [1838. 

and  received  a  pleasant  greeting  from  one  or  more  of  his 
former  pupils.  He  was  becoming  a  great  traveller,  and  fre- 
quently showed  his  face  in  Princeton  on  returning  from  one 
of  his  tours  abroad.  He  liked  nothing  better  than  to  re- 
count the  incidents  of  these  journeys.  I  find  that  Mr.  Alex- 
ander was  at  this  time  absent,  having  gone  to  Philadelphia 
with  his  father.  He  seems  to  have  proceeded  to  Boston 
and  other  places  in  New-England,  and  then  returned  to  the 
Pennsylvania  Capital.  He  wrote  home  almost  daily  ;  an  un- 
usual thing  with  him.  Saturday,  the  26th,  he  had  diverged 
as  far  as  Elizabethtown  ;  where  he  was  to  preach  on  Sunday. 
I  give  below  the  only  record  he  has  left  of  this  journey. 
It  seems  to  have  been  penned  in  Boston  : 

"Lord's  Day,  May  20.  "Waterbury's  Church.  Beecher,  ' navel  any 
pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked.'  Beecher  again,  '  Seek  first  the 
kingdom  of  God.'  " 


*ov 


It  is  hard  to  clothe  a  skeleton  journal  with  flesh  and  blood. 
The  days  were  not  alike,  but  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  revive 
them  in  their  distinct  individuality.  The  materials  at  my 
disposal  are  not  such  as  to  enable  me  to  hit  off  the  physiog- 
nomy of  each  transient  period;  a  few  touches  here  and  there 
must  suffice.  Professor  James  Alexander  could  not  be  in- 
duced to  give  a  favourable  answer  to  a  solicitation  from  the 
church  in  Petersburg,  which  he  received  about  this  time.  The 
younger  brother  was  still  in  motion  upon  various  neighbour- 
ing railways.  On  the  18th  of  September  he  came  home  from 
New-Brunswick,  bringing  with  him  clouds  and  signs  of  bad 
weather.  He  dined  with  his  brother,  and  was,  I  doubt  not, 
very  communicative  and  entertaining  about  his  journey.  He 
was  never  more  agreeable  than  after  such  returns.  His  eyes 
would  fairly  sparkle  with  fun  and  pleasure,  and  the  little  ones 
would  lau2:h  louder  than  ever  at  his  amusing  inventions. 

On  November  the  11th,  he  records  : 

"  To-night  I  heard  Dr.  Rice  preach  from  Acts  xvii.  30,  on  the  duty 
of  repentance.     Anniversary  of  my  last  awakening.     Thanks  be  to  God 


^Et.  29.]  DR.    HODGES    ESTIMATE.  449 

for  his  unspeakable  gift !  I  have  lately  finished  Lockhart'sLife  of  Scott, 
which  I  read  with  much  interest. 

"  JSTov.  17.  Within,  a  few  days  I  have  read  the  trial  of  Warren 
Hastings." 

On  Sunday  the  8th  of  December,  he  arose  for  the  first 
time  in  the  Seminary  Chapel ;  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  that 
he  was  listened  to  with  the  greatest  attention. 

Among  those  who  watched  with  interest  his  dawning  rep- 
utation as  a  preacher,  was  Dr.  Charles  Hodge,  the  friend  of  his 
boyhood  and  his  colleague  in  the  Seminary  ;  a  man  who  above 
almost  all  other  men,  had  opportunity  and  ability  to  know  and 
rightly  estimate  the  greatness  and  variety  of  the  gifts  with 
which  God  had  endowed  him,  and  the  breadth  of  the  charmed 
circle  that  limited  his  attainments  and  means  of  influence. 
Mr.  Alexander's  intellectual  wealth  was  like  treasure  hid  in  a 
field.  One  had  to  resort  thither  for  it ;  it  Avas  not  exposed  in 
the  market-place.  Dr.  Hodge  had  seen  the  treasure  buried, 
and,  of  course,  knew  what  it  was.  He  writes  as  follows  as  to 
his  mode  of  preaching : 

"As  a  preacher,  he  had,  for  an  intelligent  audience  at  least,  few 
equals.  His  mode  of  constructing  his  sermons  was  various.  Some- 
times his  preaching  was  exegetical.  He  would  take  a  passage  of  greater 
or  less  extent,  and  so  expound  it  that  his  hearers  would  be  astonished 
at  the  treasures  of  truth  which  it  contained  beyond  what  before  they 
had  apprehended.  Sometimes  his  discourses  were  graphic;  abounding 
in  the  highest  kind  of  description  ;  filling  the  mind  with  aesthetic  and 
devotional  feelings  so  mingled  as  to  be  hardly  distinguishable ;  and  dif- 
fusing through  it  a  purifying  delight. 

"  He  generally  wrote  his  sermons  and  used  his  manuscript  in  the 
•  pulpit;  but  never  slavishly,  as  though  he  needed  it.  He  always  ap- 
peared to  be  master  of  himself  and  of  his  subject.  I  have  heard  him 
in  the  Seminary  Chapel  (if  the  solecism  be  intelligible),  read  extem- 
pore. That  is,  he  has  gone  into  the  pulpit  with  blank  paper,  and  in  a 
level  tone  of  voice,  and  without  the  slightest  hesitancy,  deliver  a  dis- 
course  as  though  ho  were  reading  from  a  book ;  not  addressing  his 
hearers,  but  reading  to  them.  This  was  not  an  exhibition  of  a  power 
of  committing  to  memory  without  writing,  but  was  done  apparently 
off-hand,  with  little  or  no  premeditation.  This,  of  course,  was  not  done 
for  display,  for  he  did  not  expect  to  be  detected;  but  if,  when  called 


450  LETTERS    TO    A    BOY.  [1838. 

on  to  preach,  he  could  not  lay  his  hand  on  a  sermon  which  suited  his 
purpose,  he  would  adopt  this  method.  Preaching  to  theological  stu- 
dents was  not  so  agreeable  to  him  as  addressing  a  promiscuous  audi- 
ence, and  he  seldom  spoke  in  the  Chapel  with  the  animation  which 
characterized  his  manner  under  other  circumstances." 

This  year,  Mr.  Alexander  became  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Biblical  Repertory ;  to  which  he  had  already  contributed  a 
series  of  remarkable  essays  upon  exegetical,  critical,  biographi- 
cal, historical,  and  miscellaneous  subjects.  Associated  with  this 
change  was  that  of  the  title  of  the  periodical,  w^hich  now  ac- 
quired new  fame  in  connection  with  the  additional  description, 
"  and  Princeton  Review."  He  loved  to  call  it  so  himself;  but 
the  old  title  is  still  the  more  popular  one. 

Some  letters  written  to  one  of  his  young  pupils  at  this 
time,  will  give  us  some  idea  of  the  kind  of  influence  which 
he  exercised  upon  them. 

"  July  7,  1838. 
"My  Dear  Boy  : 

"  As  you  are  improving  in  your  mathematical  studies,  I  propose  to 
reward  you  with  a  letter  of  unusual  length.  It  is  sometimes  said  that 
people  of  quick  tempers  are  more  affectionate  than  others ;  and  this 
may  be  partly  true.  But  that  can  be  no  reason  for  neglecting  to  re- 
strain your  temper.  Why  may  you  not  be  both  good-tempered  and 
affectionate?  If  you  had  a  dog  which  was  extremely  fond  of  you  for 
six  days  in  tbe  week,  but  on  the  seventh  would  go  mad  and  bite  you, 
do  you  think  that  his  good  habits  and  behaviour  in  general  would  recon- 
cile you  to  his  bites  at  other  times?  I  am  the  more  disposed  to  urge 
you  to  improve  in  this  respect,  because  you  have  improved  so  much 
already  since  I  first  became  acquainted  with  you.  Go  on,  my  dear  lad ! 
and  with  Divine  help  you  may  conquer  this  and  every  other  evil  disposi- 
tion. 

''"Avtt)  (<jt\v  fj  vIkt)  tj  viKTjcraaa  rhv  k6(j\lqv,  rj  Trlaris  Tjficov. 

"And  now  let  us  change  the  subject  of  discourse.  I  am  sorry  for 
the  accident  which  befel  your  hat  on  the  fourth  of  July,  and  hear  that 
you  are  somewhat  extravagant  in  your  expressions  of  delight  and  grat- 
itude for  national  independence.  Do  you  not  think  that  many  people 
celebrate  the  day  without  remembering  why  it  is  kept?  And  can  you 
tell  me  what  is  the  connection  between  liberty  and  rockets — independ- 


iGT.29.i  DAY-BOOK.  451 

ence  and  turpentine  ?  The  accidents  which  happen  on  the  fourth 
of  July  throughout  the  country,  are  very  numerous  and  often  very 
lamentable.  But  the  worst  of  all  is  the  intemperance  and  riot  which 
prevail,  under  the  pretext  of  rejoicing  in  our  freedom.  Many  prove  in 
this  way,  that  although  they  boast  of  freedom  they  are  utterly  unfit  for 
it.  And  now  as  this  may  be  the  last  letter  which  I  shall  address  to 
you,  I  wish  before  I  close  to  beg  that  you  will  lose  no  time  in  gaining 
all  the  knowledge  that  may  be  within  your  reach  ;  as  life  is  short  and 
you  have  much  to  do.  "With  this  advice  and  my  best  wishes,  I  bid  yon 
adieu.  Yours  sincerely, 

"  Addison  Alexandee." 

In  another  letter  to  the  same,  of  Sept.  21,  1838,  he  tells  him 
he  must  keep  a  journal. 

"To-morrow  you  will  please  to  commence  a  journal  of  your  own 
adventures,  studies,  and  employments,  which  I  wish  you  to  keep  for 
my  information  and  your  own  improvement  until  you  can  resume  your 
correspondence,  either  with  me  or  with  another  teacher.  In  writing  this 
journal,  you  must  be  particular  and  put  down  everything  which  is  at  all 
important  on  the  one  hand,  or  amusing  on  the  other.  "Write  very  often 
and  little  at  a  time,  putting  down  things  as  they  happen,  before  you  have 
had  time  to  forget  them.  As  this  will  be  your  principal  employment  for 
some  time,  I  hope  you  will  take  pains  to  tell  me  a  great  deal  and  to  im- 
prove in  writing.  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"  Jos.  Addison  Alexandre." 

During  the  summer  of  1838  and  the  winter  of  1838-1839, 
Mr.  Alexander  wrote  most  of  his  best  sermons,  and  was  con- 
tinually called  from  home  to  preach.  The  record  of  his  stud- 
ies and  reflections  for  the  earlier  part  of  this  period  is  pre- 
served in  a  volume  of  singular  but  eccentric  interest.  It  is, 
regarded  outwardly,  a  square  thick  quarto  bound  in  sheep  and 
made  of  unsized  white  paper,  and  is  labelled  on  the  back,  "Day 
Book  No.  I."  In  this  volume  he  not  only  kept  as  usual  a  co- 
pious journal  of  thoughts  on  different  parts  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, especially  Isaiah  and  Nahum,  and  the  earlier  historical 
books,  as  well  as  plans  of  sermons,  bare  skeletons,  random 
hints,  and  sermons  in  extenso  ;  but  wrote  doggerel  verses,  and 


452  WRITING    SERMONS.  [1838. 

scribbled  letters  in  every  sort  of  hand- writing  and  in  every  style 
of  courtly  periphrasis.  Scraps  of  unintelligible  nonsense  are 
here  and  there  scrawled  right  across  a  profound  comment  on 
Isaiah.  Sometimes  there  is  nothing  but  the  signature,  and  the 
sugared  compliments  that  were  then,  and  are  still,  somewhat 
fashionable  among  foreign  ambassadors  ;  or  the  assurances  of 
chilling  politeness  which  we  look  for  from  persons  who,  though 
inimical  to  one  another,  are  yet  not  quite  at  dagger's  draw. 
The  book  also  contains  amusing  epistles  to  Constantine  Menaeus 
in  modern  Greek.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  specimens  of  his 
calligraphy. 

Here  are  a  few  more  records  from  his  journal : 

"  Sunday,  July  1.  Sermon  by  my  father;  communion  administered 
by  Dr.  Eice.  Monthly  concert  in  the  afternoon.  Sermon  at  night  by  Dr. 
Rice,  on  the  First  Commandment.  [Opened]  Bryan  Owen's  treatise  on 
the  Mortification  of  Sin,  and  read  several  chapters  with  a  deeper  effect 
upon  my  heart  and  conscience  than  I  have  experienced  for  years  from 
any  book.  Recommenced  the  reading  of  the  Bible  by  my  calendar ; 
began  with  Job  xxxiii,  and  Matthew  vii.  With  the  former  I  used 
Rosenmuller's  Scholia  in  a  cursory  manner.  Began  to  write  a  sermon  on 
Romans  x.4. 

"July  3.  Abandoned  the  writing  of  my  sermon,  and  concluded  to 
prepare  without  writing. 

"  July  7.  Resumed  and  finished  the  writing  of  my  sermon  on  Ro- 
mans x.  4.  This  is  the  second  sermon  I  have  written.  I  have 
preached  ten ;  two  of  these  twice,  and  one  three  times.  Dr.  Rice  has 
invited  me  to  preach  to-morrow  evening. 

"July  8.  I  heard  Dr.  Miller  preach  in  the  Chapel  from  Rom.  viii. 
83.  I  read  the  Missionary  Herald  fur  July,  and  Owen  on  Temptation.  At 
night  I  preached  in  the  Church  my  sermon  on  Rom.  xx.  14.  Every  ex- 
periment brings  me  nearer  to  the  conclusion  thnt  I  can  preach  more 
acceptably  and  profitably  '  without  notes '  than  with  them.  My  pres- 
ent purpose  is  to  write  most  of  my  sermons  and  to  read  none  of  them. 
I  wish,  as  early  as  possible,  to  form  such  a  habit  as  will  tend  most  to 
increase  my  ministerial  usefulness.  Lord  guide  me!  On  this  occasion 
I  read  my  sermon.     It  is  the  second  that  I  have  written. 

"  July  9.  "Wrote  six  pages  of  a  sermon  on  Ephesians  iii.  14.  Re- 
ceived a  letter  from  the  Rev.  J.  FT.  Jones,  requesting  me  to  supply  his 
pulpit  on  the  22d  instant :   '  agreed.' 


Mt.  29.]  JOURNAL.  453 

"July  15.  Preached  in  the  first  Presbyterian  Church,  New-York, 
an  expository  pennon  (John  iii.  36),  without  the  manuscript.  At  night  I 
went  to  John  Macauley's  Church,  and  heard  him  preach  from  the  text, 
'  I  remembered  God  and  was  troubled.' 

"July  17.  Received  a  letter  from  Dr.  Pennington,  inviting  me  to 
preach  before  the  Young  Men's  Society  of  Newark,  on  the  evening  of 
the  la*t  Sabbath  in  August. 

"  July  22.  Expounded  the  6th  of  Isaiah  in  the  Spruce-street  Church, 
Philadelphia.  Dined  at  Mrs.  Hall's,  and  in  the  afternoon  read  my  ser- 
mon on  Hebrews  xi.  10.  Drank  tea  at  John  Hall's  again,  and  went 
with  him  to  hear  Bascomb  preach  in  Dr.  Skinner's  Church." 

"  July  23.  '  No  peace  to  the  wicked.'  Wrote  a  full  analysis  of  a 
sermon  on  the  above  text,  with  one  or  two  paragraphs  written  out  at 
length.  I  propose  to  try  this  method  of  preaching,  as  compared  with 
the  reading  and  the  pure  extempore  method. 

"July  25.  "Wrote  a  similar  analysis  of  a  sermon  on  Psalm  xvii.  15. 
My  method  is  to  write  the  leading  ideas  under  every  head,  on  the 
right-baud  page,  having  the  left  for  any  passages  that  I  may  choose  to 
write  at  length.  I  propose  to  try  this  method  in  Philadelphia  next 
Lord's  Day.  This  evening,  several  of  us  met  at  Dr.  Hodge's  to  tako 
leave  of  Dr.  Breckinridge;  a'ter  some  conversation  we  joined  in  prayer 
with  Dr.  Hodge,  and  bade  Dr.  Breckinridge  farewell. 

"July  26.  My  brother  began  to  remove  his  effects  to  Dr.  Breck- 
inridge's house.  His  wife  and  I  dined  there,  and  I  lodged  there  at 
night,  as  1  expect  to  do  hereafter.* 

"  July  29.  Preached  in  Dr.  Boardman's  Church,  Philadelphia,  from 
full  notes  on  the  text,  '  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked.' 
In  the  afternoon,  I  read  my  sermon  from  the  text,  'Awake  thou  that 
sleepest  and  arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light.'  " 

The  journal  is  filled  with  statements  of  this  nature.  The 
few  extracts  given  may  serve  as  samples. 

One  of  the  most  intelligent  of  his  Princeton  hearers  f 
thus  refers  to  his  power  over  his  congregation  : 

"I  only  knew  him  by  his  sermons  and  his  writings.     Judging  of 

*  The  house  he  had  occupied  since  April  of  the  last  year,  was  at  Mr.  Voor- 
kees's,  corner  of  Nassau  street  and  John's  Alley  ;  and  in  the  very  centre  of  the 
village  hubbub. 

f  The  Hon.  Richard  S.  Field. 


454  AN   ELOCUTIONIST.  [1838. 

hiin  by  them,  I  would  say,  he  was  a  man  of  great  learning,  great  elo- 
quence, and  great  intellectual  power.  I  frequently  heard  liim  preach  ; 
and  embraced  every  opportunity  of  doing  so.  He  was  by  far  the 
greatest  preacher  I  have  ever  heard.  I  have  never  known  any  one  to 
compare  with  him.  He  possessed  every  quality  for  a  great  pulpit  ora- 
tor, physical  as  well  as  intellectual.  His  face  and  forehead  were  mass- 
ive, large,  and  round  ;  his  voice  combined  the  highest  degree  of  melo- 
dy and  the  greatest  compass  and  volume;  and  when  he  chose  to  be 
eloquent,  his  eloquence  was  of  the  very  highest  order.  I  say,  when 
he  chose  to  be  eloquent;  fur  what  always  struck  me  more  than  any 
thing  else  was  this — that  he  never  seemed  to  put  forth  all  his  power, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  impressed  you  with  the  idea  that  he  had  a  fund  in 
reserve  upon  which  he  might  have  drawn  to  any  extent.  What  he 
did,  never  seemed  to  cost  him  the  slightest  effort.  I  always  felt  that 
there  was  nothing  in  the  way  of  eloquence  which  he  might  not  have 
done." 

By  the  30th  of  July,  the  family  of  the  elder  brother  were 
well  settled  in  their  new  house,  and  could  give  thanks  for  a 
profusion  of  comforts  ;  though  during  all  this  period  they 
were  passing  through  a  sore  trial.  Mr.  Alexander,  at  their 
warm  entreaty,  took  up  his  lodgings  under  the  same  roof.  At 
one  time  or  another,  he  had  nearly  every  room  in  the  building. 

The  advent  of  a  teacher  of  elocution  set  the  brothers  about 
the  business  of  guarding  and  strengthening  their  voices. 
They  both  took  lessons,  but  afterward  concurred  in  very 
contemptuous  views  of  this  branch  of  instruction.  Perhaps 
they  carried  this  prejudice  too  far.  The  older  brother  used 
to  say  that  the  great  pulpit  orators,  such  as  Bourdaloue,  Massil- 
lon,  Hall,  and  Chalmers,  were  not  made  by  the  elocutionists 
but  in  despite  of  all  their  artificial  rules.  The  subjoined  record 
shows  what  progress  they  were  making  under  Mr.  Bronson  : 

"  Addison  and  I  are  taking  lessons  in  barking  and  howliDg,  and  ven- 
triloquism, from  an  elocutionist  named  Bronson,  and  who  with  much 
stuff,  has  also  certain  discoveries  on  which  I  thought  I  myself  had  hit;  * 

*  He  refers  to  his  own  review  of  Gardiner's  Music  of  Nature,  in  the  July 
number  of  the  Repertory,  p.  268. 


^t.29.j  DR.    ABEL    STEVENS.  455 

but  which  ho  carries  so  far  as  to  convince  me  that  the  Laryngitis 
(erroneously  called  Bronchitis)  is  preventable." 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  in  his  last  journey  to  Phila- 
delphia, shortly  before  his  death,  the  younger  brother  jotted 
down  in  a  copy  of  the  History  of  Methodism  by  Dr.  Abel 
Stevens,  the  word  "  excellent,"  in  approval  of  a  long  pas- 
sage in  that  admirable  work  on  this  subject  of  "elocution" 
as  related  to  true  eloquence  and  as  illustrated  by  Whitefield. 
His  notion  and  that  of  Dr.  Stevens  was,  that  if  a  man  had  the 
soul  of  oratory,  he  would  be  very  apt  to  have  the  form ;  and 
that  ardent  and  melting  sympathy  have  more  to  do  with  the 
highest  effects  of  eloquence  than  terror. 

This  was  the  secret  of  Mr.  Alexander's  own  power  in  the 
pulpit.  He  had  not  the  tricks  and  graces  of  the  mere  histri- 
onic performer.  His  influence  was  that  of  a  man  thoroughly 
in  earnest  and  in  loving  sympathy  with  his  hearers,  importu- 
nately pleading  with  them  to  be  saved  through  the  great  sacri- 
fice for  sinners.  I  am  «;lad  to  refer  in  this  connection  to  the 
words  of  a  thoughtful  admirer  of  Mr.  Alexander's  preaching, 
who  brings  out  his  character  in  this  respect  very  forcibly. 
The  writer  I  am  about  to  quote  is  a  physician  living  in  the 
West,  far  in  the  interior. 

He  knew  Dr.  Addison  Alexander  well,  and  in  all  his  phases. 
He  says : 

"Mr.  Alexander  was  one  of  the  most  attractive  preachers  to  me 
that  I  ever  listened  to.  lie  was  no  orator  in  the  ordinary  acceptation 
of  the  word.  His  sermons  were  generally  written  and  closely  read,  or 
if  not  written,  delivered  without  raising  his  eyes  from  the  Bible  before 
him ;  his  utterance  rapid  beyond  that  of  any  other  speaker  I  ever  lis- 
tened to  except  Dr.  Robley  Dtmglison,  of  Jefferson  Medical  College, 
Philadelphia;  making  no  gestures,  only  an  occasional  emphasizing  fall 
of  his  right  hand,  with  the  fingers  closed,  standing  firmly  and  squarely 
on  his  feet,  without  motion,  there  were  yet  but  few  men  I  ever  heard 
preach  to  whom  I  would  sooner  give  the  palm  for  eloquence.  I  remem- 
ber hearing  him  deliver  a  sermon  on  the  text,  'Remember  Lot's  wife,' 
which  I  shall  never  forget  while  I  live,   if  I  forget  it  ever.     The 


456  STYLE    OF    PREACHING.  [1838. 

effect  upon  the  audience  was  visible  and  audible :  all  present  seemed 
drawn  forward  in  their  seats,  and  holJing  their  breath  ;  and  when  he 
paused  to  breathe,  you  could  hear  the  inhalation  of  the  mass  of  his 
hearers  over  the  whole  church.  It  always  seemed  to  me  that  if  there 
ever  was  a  man  whose  sermons  would  re;id  as  well  as  they  sounded, 
it  was  Addison  Alexander :  but  many  years  after  I  read  this  very 
sermon,  printed  among  others  in  the  volume  of  his  sermons,  and  I 
must  say  that  I  felt  as  if  a  portion  surely  had  been  left  out.  I  mbsed 
something — which  something  I  now  feel  must  have  been  the  intense 
biotic  force,  magnetism,  brain-power  of  the  man.  This  sermon  was  one 
which  no  one  but  himself  could  have  produced,  or  have  delivered  with 
the  same  effect.  You  know  that  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  was  con- 
sidered unapproachable  in  his  own  peculiar  style  of  preaching,  and  yet  I 
have  heard  his  son  Addison  fully  equal  him  in  that  very  style ;  except 
that  the  glance  of  the  eye,  and  the  individualizing  dart  of  the  forefinger 
with  which  the  '  old  man  eloquent '  was  accustomed  to  launch  the 
truth  into  the  very  heart  of  some  particular  person  before  him,  were 
always  wanting.  And  so  also  I  have  heard  him  preach  in  the  styles 
that  were  thought  peculiar  to  Dr.  Miller  and  to  Dr.  Hodge,  and,  me 
judice,  equalling  if  not  surpassing  them  in  their  very  best  efforts." 

He  cannot  say  that  these  efforts  of  his  were  predetermined 
adoptions  of  the  peculiar  modes  of  thought  of  these  other 
ministers.  He  rather  thinks  not :  but  only  that  the  coincidences 
or  resemblauce  of  styles  resulted  from  the  "  exuberance  of  his 
mental  activity  that  led  him  to  try  every  mode  by  which  it 
was  possible  for  thought  to  be  communicated  from  one  mind 
to  another." 

One  of  his  pupils,  the  Rev.  B.  T.  Lacy,  D.D.,  of  St.  Louis, 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  matter : 

"  His  preaching  was  to  mee  xceedingly  attractive  and  impressive. 
The  style  was  so  fine,  and  the  order  so  lucid.  The  truth  was  so  clearly 
and  boldly  stated,  and  the  fervour  so  genuine  and  so  animating.  Al- 
though be  seldom  touched  the  chords  of  pathos,  at  times  1  have  heard 
him  when  he  was  scarcely  surpassed,  either  in  tenderness  of  emotion  or 
depth  of  solemnity.  All  the  varied  powers  of  his  miod  seemed  to  work 
together,  and  to  move  in  perfect  harmony  with  each  other.  Hence  his 
discourses  were  ordinarily  distinguished  as  much  for  one  quality  of  excel- 
lence as  for  another.    He  was  always  logical  and  argumentative  ;  always 


^Et.29.]  INVITATIONS   TO    PREACH.  457 

rhetorical  and  imaginative  ;  always  fervent  and  solemn.  And  these  dif- 
ferent and  dissimilar  elements  were  not  separated  and  disposed  into  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  discourse :  they  interpenetrated  each  otlier,  and 
were  beautifully  and  naturally  blended  into  every  portion  of  the  ser- 
mon. His  manner  was  peculiar,  and  consisted  chiefly  in  the  distinct 
and  very  rapid  reading  of  his  manuscripts,  with  great  stress  of  voice 
and  force  of  emphasis,  which  impressed  you  with  the  earnestness  of 
the  speaker  and  the  importance  of  the  message,  and  which  invariably 
carried  you  on  with  him.  He  always  secured  the  undivided  attention 
of  his  audience.  No  preacher  ever  impressed  me  so  much  with  the 
sense  of  his  power — a  power  both  intellectual  and  spiritual — both  in 
the  man  and  in  the  message.  If  such  a  comparison  may  be  tolerated, 
or  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  idea,  the  impression  of  poicer  which  he 
made  as  he  swept  right  on  through  his  manuscript,  in  the  earnest  ra- 
pidity of  his  utterauce,  was  not  unlike  that  produced  by  a  train  of  cars, 
propelled  by  a  mighty  engine,  with  great  speed  and  irresistible  force 
right  on  upon  the  iron  track.  And  the  resemblance  did  not  end  here  : 
the  hearer  felt  that  if  he  did  not  attend  closely  to  every  sentence,  he 
should  be  left  behind  and  should  not  again  be  able  to  recover  his  lost 
position." 

I  now  return  to  the  narrative.  August  the  8th  was  the 
centennial  anniversary  of  the  Presbytery  of  New-Brunswick. 
On  the  morning  of  the  12th  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  and  his 
two  sons  were  all  preaching  in  Princeton,  and  without  previ- 
ous concert :  the  former  at  the  Seminary  Chapel,  and  the  oth- 
ers respectively  at  the  Church  and  the  African  meeting.  Mr. 
Alexander  preached  again  at  night.  His  services  in  the  pul- 
pit were  called  into  constant  requisition.  He  was  now  every- 
where recognized  as  a  powerful  and  persuasive  minister  of  the 
Word.  Towards  the  close  of  the  month  he  went  to  New- York 
on  one  of  his  little  summer  jaunts,  returning  after  a  few  days' 
absence.  He  preached  in  the  city,  and  had  some  religious  con- 
versation with  an  aged  serving-woman  wTho  was  at  the  point 
of  death.  A  few  extracts  from  his  diary  during  this  month 
may  not  be  unacceptable  : 

"Tuesday,  August  21.     Dr.  Nordheimer  lectured  ou  the  Hebrew 
alphabet.     Took  a  lesson  from  Bronson,  the  elocutionist.     "Nordheimer 
and  James  dined  with  us. 
20 


458  INSTALLATION.  riS38. 

"  August  23.  Second  lesson  from  Bronson;  learned  to  bold  my 
breath  ;  second  lecture  from  Nordheimer  on  syllabication ;  finished 
my  sermon  for  the  young  men  of  Newark. 

"  Sunday,  August  26.  Preached  in  the  First  Church  at  Newark  on 
Romans  x.  4,  in  tbe  Second  Church  on  Ephesians  v.  14.  At  five 
o'clock  beard  Dr.  Nott  preach  on  temperance.  At  night  preached  to 
the  young  men  on  Matthew  vi.  33. 

"Sunday,  Sept.  2.  Finished  the  Gospel  of  John  and  continued 
Owen  on  Indwelling  Sin.  Remember,  from  this  time  forth,  to  set  apart 
a  certain  time  in  the  morning  and  at  night  for  spiritual  exercises.  Re- 
member also,  to  be  slow  and  temperate  in  eaing  ;  to  join,  ex  animo,  in 
the  prayer  at  table  ;  and  to  think  at  every  meal  of  the  Giver  of  your 
mercies.  Remember  thirdly,  that  from  this  time  forth  your  time  must 
be  more  conscientiously  redeemed ;  and,  O  thou  holy  and  long-suffer- 
ing God  !  help  me  to  keep  these  resolutions. 

"Partook  of  [my]  the  Lord's  Supper  with  some  degree  of  pleasure 
and  profit.  My  father  preached  from  the  words,  '  It  is  finished.'  Resolu- 
tions, 1st,  To  avoid  temptations,  especially  those  which  do  so  easily  be- 
set me.  2d,  To  redeem  time.  3d,  To  give  set  times  to  private  devo- 
tions. 4th,  To  cultivate  an  habitual  spirit  of  prayer,  and  for  this  pur- 
pose to  practise  ejaculatory  prayer.  5th,  To  cultivate  expansive  and 
benevolent  feelings.  6th,  To  avoid  the  extremes  of  moroseness  and 
frivolity,  sanctimony  and  worldliness.  Give  me  grace,  O  Lord !  to 
keep  these  resolutions. 

"  September  14.  Presented  Nordheimer  with  Passou's  Greek  and 
Frey tag's  Arabic  Lexicon.  He  took  leave.  I  finished  my  article  on 
Hengstenberg  in  a  hurry,  with  the  printers  at  my  heels." 

He  was,  shortly  after  this,  installed  in  his  chair  as  Profess- 
or of  Oriental  languages  and  literature ;  as  we  learn  from 
the  following  record : 

"  September  24.  Heard  Dr.  McElroy  dismiss  the  students.  At 
night  I  was  inaugurated.  After  singing,  Dr.  Green  prayed ;  I  read  and 
sihVcribed  the  formula,  and  delivered  my  inaugural  discourse,  and  Dr. 
Spring  his  charge. 

"  Sept.  25.  My  inaugural  address  was  requested  by  the  Board  for 
publication.     Heard  "Warren  Scott's  annual  oration." 

The  inaugural  address  of  the  young  professor  must  have 
been  listened  to  with  rapt  attention  and  delight ;  for  it  is  one 


Mi.  29.]  INAUGURAL.  459 

of  the  best  things  he  ever  uttered.  It  will  be  found  entire  in 
the  Repertory  for  April  1839,  where  it  forms  the  larger  part  of 
a  review  of  his  brother's  little  volume  entitled,  "  The  Scripture 
Guide.  A  Familiar  Introduction  to  the  Study  of  the  Bible." 
As  in  his  first  essay  before  the  Philological  Society,  he  had 
amazed  and  charmed  his  youthful  compeers  by  leaving  the 
tomes  of  antiquity  and  going  to  the  neglected  pages  of  our  own 
literature ;  so  when  every  eye  was  turned  upon  the  travelled 
Hebraist,  and  every  mind  was  probably  in  expectation  of  a 
wide  and  accurate  display  of  Oriental  learning,  the  modest 
scholar  uses  all  his  genius  in  an  effort  to  exalt  the  English 
Bible.  The  discourse  is  marked  by  novelty  and  originality  of 
substance  ;  by  great  force  and  cogency  of  statement ;  by  those 
traces  of  erudition  which  he  was  not  able,  or  did  not  care,  to 
hide ;  by  felicity  of  illustration  and  diction  ;  by  wit,  sarcasm, 
keen  excoriation,  playful  innuendo,  sweet  and  wholesome  hu- 
mour; by  admirable  common-sense — of  the  kind  that  was  once 
loved  in  old  England  :  and  has  an  aroma  of  the  old  practical 
writers,  and  of  his  own  closest  devotions,  and  (towards  the 
close)  a  kind  of  rushing  eloquence  that  reminds  one  of  a 
stream  that  chafes  its  bed  and  threatens  to  burst  from  its  em- 
bankment. It  is  a  comprehensive  plea  for  the  study  of  the 
English  version  pari  passu  with  the  original.  The  main  dis- 
cussion is  laid  off  under  seven  heads.  The  image  that  is  con- 
tained in  the  concluding  sentence  of  the  address,  was  one  of 
those  grand  and  happy  conceptions  of  which  his  mind  seemed 
to  be  full,  and  which  came  from  him  spontaneously  whenever 
his  reason  and  feeling  were  strongly  excited  by  the  proper 
stimulus.  With  him,  to  think  at  all  was  to  express  in  his 
choicest  language.  He  seemed  to  be  as  automatic  in  this 
respect  as  Mozart  or  Coleridge. 

The  26th  was  Commencement ;  and  on  that  day  the  Hon. 
James  McDowell,  of  Virginia,  pronounced  an  address  of 
fervid  rhetoric  and  rare  sagacity  before  the  two  literaiy  socie- 
ties. The  weather  was  stormy.  It  should  seem  from  the  an- 
nexed entry  in  his  journal  that  Mr.  Alexander,  who  was  per- 
fectly acquainted  with  the  fame  of  the  orator,  had  purposed 


460  A    SERMON.  D83& 

to  hear  him,   but   was   prevented  by  the  incessant  pouring 
showers. 

"Sept.  26.  Confined  to  the  house  with  rain.  Missed  McDowell's 
speech."  The  traditions  of  this  speech  still  linger  among  the  Prince- 
ton students  ;  and  I  have  heard  that  there  are  gestures  and  turns  of  ex- 
pression there  now  which  are  clearlv  traceable  to  its  influence. 

There  is  no  other  record  until  October  the  2d.  From  his 
diary  it  appears  that  Mr.  Alexander  now  preached  his  first 
sermon  memoriter,  and  was  not  displeased  with  the  experi- 
ment : 

"  Having  breakfasted  with  Mr.  Dod,  I  set  off  with  him  in  my  car- 
riage for  Freehold,  where  we  arrived  at  noon,  and  found  the  Rev.  L.  O. 
Brown  preaching  on  the  history  of  David  and  Nabal.  After  sermon, 
the  Presbytery  met,  Mr.  Dod  in  the  chair.  They  were  chiefly  taken  up 
in  the  examination  of  candidates.  I  preached  at  night  from  Mark  xiv. 
41.     My  first  attempt  to  preach  from  memory." 

Here  is  another  entry  touching  sermon-making  : 

"Dec.  23.  Preached  in  College,  Matt.  vi.  33  ;  read  closely ;  disliked 
the  sermon  more  than  ever;  written  on  a  bad  plan ;  skeleton  made 
first ;  no  spontaneous  flow  of  thought.  The  best  part  was  half  a  dozen 
pages  which  I  wrote  last  night ;  declamation  at  the  end  very  frigid. 
Hequiescat  in  pace. 

"  Sermon  at  night  by ;  genuine  Yankee  sermon  ;  meta- 
physical, not  scriptural ;  clear,  logical,  acute,  ingenious,  heartless, 
orthodox  :  moral  and  natural  inability;  when  they  talk  of  this  I  never 
know  what  they  believe.  Thankful  I  do  not  'sit' — as  they  say — 
'under  '  the  best  of  such  preaching  ;  I  should  starve." 

"Professor  Alexander's  peculiar  repugnance  to  every  thing  like 
ostentatious  parade,"  writes  one  who  heard  much  about  him  at  this 
period,  "  was  evinced  in  various  ways,  after  his  entrance  upon  his 
career  as  a  preacher.  The  extraordinary  character  of  his  sermons  at 
once  arrested  public  attention,  and  drew  crowds  of  hearers ;  especially 
from  among  the  most  intelligent  classes.  It  was  impossible  but  that 
so  acute  an  observer  of  all  that  passed  around  him,  as  was  Mr.  Alex- 
ander, must  have  been  aware  of  his  popularity  ;  when  preaching  in  the 
same  pulpit  for  successive  weeks  and  months,  he  saw  the  pews  of  our 


J5t.29.j  MANNER   OF    PREACHING.  461 

largest  churches  densely  packed,  and  the  aisles  filled  with  supplement- 
ary benches.  Yet  so  far  from  seeming  elated  by  tbese  evidences  of 
his  acceptableness,  or  assuming  those  airs  of  consequence,  which  popu- 
lar preachers  are  apt  to  acquire ;  he  was  at  times  not  a  little  dismayed  by 
such  demonstrations.  I  have  no  doubt  that  his  feelings  were  akin  to 
those  of  Eobert  Hall,  whom  in  very  many  traits  he  resembled,  who  in 
the  later  years  of  his  life  could  scarcely  be  induced  to  preach  in  Lon- 
don, because  of  the  throngs  who  pressed  to  hear  him.  Both  of  these 
great  men  felt  the  sanctity  of  their  work,  and  the  fearful  responsibili- 
ty of  God's  ambassadors  to  perishing  men.  Both  were  aware  that  when 
men  are  drawn  to  listen  to  the  preacher  for  the  sake  of  his  talents  as  a 
preacher,  there  is  little  likelihood  of  their  being  benefited  by  the 
Divine  ambassador." 

At  one  time  lie  preached  in  the  afternoons  in  a  school-house 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  little  town  in  which  he  lived.  Re- 
ferring to  these  efforts,  one  of  his  students  says : 

"  His  sermons  at  Queenston  were  always  preached  without  notes, 
and  were  generally  plain,  instructive  discourses,  delivered  with  great 
rapidity  of  utterance,  perfect  fluency,  and  intense  earnestness.  Though 
his  speech  was  so  rapid,  such  was  the  clearness  of  the  thought,  and  the 
distinctness  of  the  enunciation,  that  there  was  nothing  lost  by  the  ear 
of  the  audience." 

His  more  elaborate  sermons  were  generally  read.  Con- 
versing with  this  gentleman  one  day  on  this  subject  of  reading 
sermons,  Mr.  Alexander  expressed  the  opinion  that  every 
preacher  ought  to  try  every  method,  and  finally  settle  down 
upon  that  which  he  can  make  most  effective.  He  then  asked 
his  companion  if  he  did  not  think  that  reading  wras  his  most 
effective  mode  of  preaching,  intimating  that  in  his  owrn  opinion 
it  was.     His  acquaintance  very  readily  agreed  with  him. 

The  Rev.  James  W.  Alexander  once  remarked  to  me  (what 
has  since  been  published  as  his  opinion)  that  he  and  his  brother 
Addison  were  differently  constituted  as  to  this  matter;  for 
that  in  his  own  case  the  imagination  was  never  more  stimu- 
lated  than  in  extemporary  preaching ;  whereas  in  the  case  of 
Addison  the  reverse  was  true  :  the  embarrassment  of  apoear- 


462  WRITING    SERMONS.  [183a 

ing  before  an  audience  without  notes  of  any  kind,  or  some 
other  cause,  hindered  the  movement  of  his  imagination,  though 
the  excitement  of  speaking  greatly  encouraged  and  excited 
other  powers,  such  as  the  memory,  the  reason,  and  the  faculty 
of  rapid,  exact,  fluent,  and  felicitous  expression.  Writing 
was,  on  the  whole,  a  greater  stimulant  than  speaking,  in  the 
case  of  the  younger  brother.  He  reasoned  out  his  propositions 
with  equal  force  and  facility  at  one  time  as  at  another,  and 
always  with  the  most  admirable  novelty  and  cogency.  He 
expressed  himself  under  all  circumstances,  whether  pen  in 
hand  or  in  the  presence  of  an  auditory,  with  nearly  the  same 
ease  and  conciseness,  and  with  a  vigour  and  precision  that  have 
put  many  persons  in  mind  of  the  complex,  fine,  quick,  yet  in- 
variable movement  of  powerful  machinery.  But  when  he 
spoke  extemporaneously,  he  seemed  to  be  darting  to  and  fro 
very  swiftly  upon  the  surface  of  the  ground ;  whereas  when 
he  wrote,  he  often  seemed  to  be  plunging  through  yawning 
chasms  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  or  hovering  over  the 
abyss  of  waterfalls,  or  climbing  dizzy  mountains,  or  rioting 
among  the  clouds  and  colours  of  sunset,  or  soaring  like  some 
bird  of  strong  pinion  into  depths  of  distant  azure,  as  if  he 
were  making  for  the  very  zenith. 

When  he  wrote,  he  sometimes  seemed  to  exult  in  the  op- 
ulence of  his  own  vocabulary,  and  to  experience  a  kind  of 
exuberant  joy  in  marshalling  in  skilful  order  the  images  of 
glory  that  peopled  his  brain,  and  threw  an  iridescent  splen- 
dour over  his  exciting  meditations.  This  was  seldom  the  case 
when  he  discarded  verbal  recollection,  together  with  the  assist- 
ance of  manuscript  in  the  pulpit.  He  then  commonly  stuck 
to  his  text  considered  as  a  proposition  to  be  merely  analyzed, 
expounded,  and  energetically  pressed  upon  the  conscience 
and  religious  feelings  of  his  hearers.  His  mode  of  procedure 
in  such  cases  was  by  profound,  suggestive  remarks  upon  the 
nexus  of  particular  inspired  utterances,  or  upon  the  general 
principles  of  Scripture  exegesis ;  by  admirable  processes  of 
deductive  logic;  interspersed  with  pithy, homely  observations 
drawn  from  his  large  acquaintance  with  the  ordinary  character 


^Et.  29.]  NOT    DEPENDENT    ON    NOTES.  463 

of  his  fellow-beings ;  and  by  simple  and  direct  appeals  to  the 
heart. 

His  genius,  under  such  conditions,  seemed  to  be  some  "crea- 
ture of  the  elements/'  rather  than  merely  the  ordinary  powers 
ofhis  mind  harnessed  to  nobler  work.  It  would  be  wrong  to 
think  that  all  his  written  efforts  were  of  this  lofty  or  aerial 
description.  His  sermons  on  paper  sometimes  differed  scarce- 
ly at  all  from  the  sermons  which  in  a  manner  sprung  from  the 
occasion.  There  was  infinite  diversity,  moreover,  if  not  be- 
tween the  two  principal  classes  of  sermons,  yet  among  his  indi- 
vidual discourses.  It  is  not  risridlv  true,  either,  that  he  was 
never  imaginative  except  when  he  was  in  the  chains  of  manu- 
script. He  would  sometimes  break  away  into  splendid  im- 
agery and  vehement  appeals,  when  he  had  written  nothing. 
But  this  was  an  exceptional  experience  with  him,  and  probably 
happened  most  frequently  when  he  had  a  blank  book  before 
him,  or  one  virtually  so,  (as  he  occasionally  did)  and  could 
employ  his  eyes  and  his  fingers  in  turning  over  the  leaves. 
Whether  this  was  a  mechanical  necessity,  like  that  which  is 
observed  often  in  absent-minded  people,  or  whether  it  arose 
from  mere  caprice  or  whim,  or  from  excess  of  morbid  consci- 
ousness, it  would  be  hard  to  determine.  I  have  myself  seen 
him  turn  his  leaves  alternately  in  opposite  directions. 

It  is  certain  that  he  was  in  no  way  dependent  on  his  pa- 
per, either  for  his  thoughts  or  his  language ;  and  that  his  verbal 
memory  was  fully  equal  to  his  invention.  It  seems  most  like- 
ly, on  the  whole,  that  he  distrusted  his  powers  as  an  extem- 
poraneous orator ;  and  that  his  fancy,*  and  to  some  extent  also 
his  feelings,  did  not  often  take  fire  except  in  the  atmosphere 
of  his  study,  or  in  the  pulpit  after  he  had  written  out  every 
word. 

Every  one  of  such  discourses  would  be  concatenated  link 
by  link,  and  made  as  bright  and  invulnerable  as  a  suit  of  chain 
armor.      In   his  later  years,  he  changed  his  whole  theory  of 

*  I  here  use  the  words  imagination  and  fancy  in  their  popular  sense,  and 
not  iu  the  sense  accepted  by  psychologists  aprts  Coleridge. 


464  SCRIPTURE    STUDY.  [1838. 

sermonizing,  and  wrote  his  discourses  almost  exclusively  in 
this  style.  His  taste  had  become  bare  and  severe  like  that 
of  the  Greeks ;  and  his  preaching,  though  comju-ehensible  as 
ever,  and  more  deeply  instructive  than  at  any  former  period, 
lost  in  great  measure  the  pomp,  the  magnificence,  the  martial 
tread,  the  plaintive  music,  the  terrific  power,  the  strange 
captivating  charm,  that  had  characterized  it  at  an  eai'lier  day. 
He  also  became  much  less  impassioned.  This  was  owing  in 
part  to  the  gradual  exhaustion  of  his  physical  energies.  As 
years  rolled  on,  he  became  much  more  calm  in  his  manner,  as 
he  was  also  much  less  hot  and  impetuous  in  his  temper. 

The  following  hint  of  Mr.  Alexander's  employments  at  this 
time  is  from  his  brother's  diary  for  the  23d  of  December : 

""We  might  accomplish  more  if  we  were  not  foolishly  asking  our- 
selves so  often,  how  long  such  and  such  a  great  work  would  take  us. 
Mr.  Rohert  B.  Patton  used  to  engage  in  most  laborious  lexicographical 
works.  "When  Addison  asked  him  how  he  had  patience  to  go  on,  he 
said,  that  he  never  thought  of  asking  how  long  it  would  take  him,  but 
went  on  as  if  it  were  to  be  his  work  for  life. 

"  Addison  tells  me  he  finds  the  same  thing  good  in  his  Commentary 
on  Isaiah.  Our  Lord's  maxim  about  taking  thought  for  the  morrow 
seems  to  have  very  wide  applications." 

I  find  this  entry  for  Dec.  9th,  in  his  own  diary : 

"  Began  a  new  method  of  studying  the  Scriptures  in  course.  In 
order  to  keep  up  my  attention,  I  have  determined  to  read  with  a  view 
to  exposition." 

There  was  a  bright  frost  on  the  morning  of  the  12th.  It  was 
"Wednesday,  and  the  clerical  meeting  was  at  Dr.  Rice's.  The  topic 
was  the  abridged  creeds  and  communion  covenants  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Congregationalists.  The  Rev.  James'  "W.  Alexander  made  re- 
marks in  opposition  to  the  new  modes,  and  his  little  speech  was 
requested  for  publication. 

The  younger  brother  records  on  Monday,  Dec.  the  17th: 

"I  resumed  my  labours  on  Isaiah,  beginning  with  the  thirteenth 
chapter." 


jEt.».]  CICERO.  465 

This  work  now  went  on  pretty  steadily  for  a  while  ;  hut  was 
soon  again  interrupted.  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Hall,  which  he  wrote 
during  this  month,  he  makes  an  odd  reference  to  Cicero.  Here  is 
the  letter  itself: 

"  Princeton,  Dec.  19th,  1838. 
My  Dear  Sir  : 

After  reading  Secretary  Burrowes's  manifesto  about  sealed  returns, 

unsealed  returns,  &c.  I  came  upon  the  following  in  Cic.  Orat.  3  in  Cat.* 

"  Cum  vero  sumrnis  ac  clarissimis  hnjus  civitatis  viris,  qui,  audita  re, 

frequentes  ad  me,  convenerant,  literas  a  me  prius  aperiri  mane  quamad 

senatum  deferri,  placeret ;  ne,  si  nihil  esset  jnventum,  temere  a  me  tantus 

tumultus  injectus  civitati  videretur ;   negavi  me  esse  facturum,  ut  de 

periculo  publico  non  ad  consilium  publicum  rem  integrant  deferrem." 

The  above  you  are  at  liberty  to  publish  (but  not  in  your  "valuable 

journal")  as  your  own  discovery,  and  this  douceur,  I  trust,  will  make 

you  lend  a  willing  ear  to  two  petitions  which  I  have  to  offer.     The 

first  is,  that  you  would  have  the  goodness  to  inform  Sam  where  he 

can  procure  some  Congress  paper,  or  quocunque  nomine.    The  other 

is  that  you  would  "  aid  and  assist  "  him  in  procuring  a  sermon-case 

(horrcsco   re  ferena)  made  on  a  plan   of    my   own   invention — black 

morocco  covers,  but  stiff  with  pasteboard,  and  adapted  to  letter-paper 

folded  once — or  say  the  largest  pocketable  size. 

Hastily  and  truly  yours, 

Jos.  Addison  Alexander. 

The  narrative  is  now  once  more  resumed.  On  Monday, 
April  the  15th,  if  we  could  have  had  a  peep  at  them,  we  should 
have  seen  Mr.  Alexander  reading  Croker's  Boswell  to  his 
brother  James.  How  the  talk  must  have  flowed,  with  such  a 
theme  to  tempt  to  every  species  of  discursive  remark !  Both 
the  brothers  were  heai'ty  friends  of  Samuel  Johnson,  and  nei- 
ther of  them  ever  tired  of  his  foolish  but  incomparable  bio- 
grapher. They  regarded  Johnson's  table-talk  as  the  strongest 
and  best  in  print.  They  both  loved  to  read  about  Dr.  Gold- 
smith and  his  peach-blossom  coat  and  his  silly  conversational 
explosions.  They  concurred  in  the  opinion  that  Irving  made 
a  mistake  in  not  dwelling  more  on  the  oddities  and  amusing 

*  M.  Tull  Cic.  Orat.  inL.  Catilinam  Tertia,  iii.   10. 
20* 


466  TALK    OF    THE    BROTHERS.  [1839. 

weaknesses  of  "  Goldy."  The  elder  brother  once  said  to  me, 
that  Macaulay  had  damned  Irving  with  faint  praise  in  his 
celebrated  article  in  the  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  where  after 
speaking  highly  of  Forster's  life,  he  adds  of  the  American 
writer,  "  Mr.  Irving's  style  is  always  pleasing." 

The  talk  of  the  two  brothers  was  much  on  sermonizing, 
and  they  both  loved  to  quote  their  venerable  father  as  author- 
ity. One  day,  one  of  them  tells  the  other  that  he  had  heard 
his  father  say  a  man  ought  not  to  begin  with  making  a  plan. 
Neither  should  he  wait  till  he  is  in  the  vein.  "  Begin,  how- 
ever you  feel,  and  write  till  you  get  into  the  vein,  however 
long  it  be  !  'Tis  thus  men  do  in  mining.  Ton  may  throw 
away  all  the  beginning.  Men  who  wTrite  with  ease,  can  think 
best  pen  in  hand.  This  applies  to  sermons,  and  also  to  books." 
These  are  the  thoughts  of  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander  modified 
by  the  mind  of  one  of  his  sons.  It  will  be  seen  that  he  coin- 
cides with  Dr.  Johnson  on  this  point.  The  prevalent  view  of 
his  eldest  son  was  different  from  that  of  Dr.  Alexander  as  here 
expressed,  and  the  younger  of  the  two  seminary  professors 
could  certainly  never  do  anything  unless  he  was  in  the  vein. 
The  majority  of  literary  men  have  opposed  the  dictum  of  John- 
son. Macaulay  told  Prescott  in  London  that  he  had  moods  * 
for  writing,  and  seldom  put  pen  to  paper  at  other  times. 

Tuesday,  the  23d,  was  a  delightful  day,  and  Mr.  Alexander 
and  his  brother  occupied  the  same  carriage  to  Lambertville,  in 
company  with  Dr.  Carnahan,  Dr.  Rice,  Dr.  Maclean,  and  a 
young  lady  by  the  name  of  Brown.  The  budding  loveliness 
of  spring  lay  all  around  them,  as  they  wended  their  wray  in 
full  view  of  the  Blawenburg  vale  and  the  Sourland  mountain. 
They  arrived  a  little  late  at  Lambertville,  for  Mr.  Yeomans  • 
had  announced  his  text ;  though  he  broke  off  as  soon  as  he 
caught  a  glimpse  of  Dr.  Rice,  who  was  appointed  to  preach. 
Mr.  Alexander  preached  at  night.  The  next  day  was  equally 
fine,  and  was  taken  up  with  the  Presbyterial  j)roceedings. 
Professor  Alexander,  of  the  College,  moved  certain  resolutions 

*  See  Life  of  Prescott,  by  Ticknor. 


^t.29.]  HIS    ORDINATION.  467 

touching  the  independence  of  the  Church  on  the  State.  The 
occasion  "was  a  memorable  one  for  the  subject  of  these  sketches, 
for  on  this  day  he  was  exactly  thirty  years  old,  and  on  this 
day  he  was  solemnly  ordained  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 
The  moderator  of  Presbytery  was  Mr.  Perkins.  Several  young 
men  were  licensed.  The  meeting  was  harmonious  and  agree- 
able. 


CHAPTEE   XV. 

Me.  Alexander  was  still  a  licentiate  at  tne  time  the  writer  * 
I  am  about  to  quote  entered  the  Seminary,  and  he  has  a  dis- 
,  tinct  recollection  of  the  period  of  his  ordination  .  It  was  an 
occasion  of  much  interest  and  pleasure  to  all  the  students. 
Mr.  Alexander  was  already  somewhat  renowned  as  a  pulpit 
orator,  and  still  more  as  a  precociously-gifted  sermonizer. 

"  Though  but  a  probationer  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  he  had,  even  at 
this  early  day,  obtained  an  enviable  popularity  as  a  preacher,  and  was 
greatly  sought  after  by  the  most  intelligent  and  fashionable  congrega- 
tions. They  were  attracted  by  the  high  fame  of  his  learning,  and 
edified  by  the  variety  and  extent  of  Gospel  truth  in  which  his  sermons 
abounded  ;  for  he  fed  the  people  with  knowledge  and  understanding." 

The  following  remarks  are  literally  exact,  as  well  as  highly 
amusing : 

"  For  the  encouragement  of  such  as  read  their  sermons  closely,  and 
pay  but  little  attention  to  their  audience,  I  may  say  that  if  they  read 
more  closely  than  he,  it  is  a  pity !  He  took  no  pains  to  conceal  his 
notes,  nor  to  '  cheat  the  eyes  of  gallery  critics  '  by  any  '  underhand ' 
measures,  such  as  shading  his  notes  from  public  view,  taking  stolen 
glances  at  them  as  it  were,  and  then  launching  out  like  an  independent 
swimmer.  He  scorned  all  concealment,  and  proclaimed  to  all  his  faith 
in  the  pen.  He  evidently  had  a  great  contempt  of  the  opinion  that 
reading  sermons  spoiled  their  effect,  and  was  not  slow  to  express  it ;  for 
on  one  or  more  occasions  that  I  heard  him  he  took  up  his  note-book  in 
his  hand,  held  it  up  between  himself  and  the  people,  turned  page  after 

*  Rev  Mr.  Tcese,  of  White  Plains. 


^Et.30.t  PRESBYTERIAL    EXAMINATION.  469 

page,  and  read  leisurely  through  the  discourse  without  once  casting  his 
eyes  on  the  congregation.  And  yet  there  was  earnestness  and  enthu- 
siasm, both  in  his  composition  and  delivery." 

It  was  natural  that  the  young  men  should  have  much  curi- 
osity as  to  the  manner  in  which  this  terrible  inquisitor  would 
himself  stand  inquisition.  The  result  was  surprising.  He 
sometimes  confessed  ignorance  :  Dr.  Alexander  never  pretended 
to  know  what  he  did  not  know.  He  thus  often  confounded 
sciolists  who  put  questions  to  him  which  no  one  living  or  dead 
could  answer  with  certainty.  He  was  as  honest  in  this  respect 
as  Socrates  and  Dr.  Johnson.  When  the  latter  was  asked  by 
a  lady  why  he  should  have  made  such  a  mistake  in  his  Dic- 
tionary about  the  pastern  of  a  horse, he  replied  :  "It  was  from 
pure  ignorance,  madam."  It  is  said  that  Mr.  Alexander  was 
once  invited  by  the  President  of  a  college  to  dine  at  his  house 
with  a  number  of  the  clergy  and  literary  people  of  the  place, 
and  that  the  host  put  the  same  question  all  round  the  table 
about  a  vexed  context  in  Isaiah,  wishing  to  draw  out  bis  guest 
the  commentator.  Of  course  various  decided  opinions  were 
elicited.  When  it  came  to  the  turn  of  Mr.  Alexander,  in  reply 
to  the  question,  "  And  what  do  you  say  is  the  meaning  of  this 
passage  ?  "  be  answered,  with  expressive  brevity :  "  I  do  not 
know." 

But  to  return  to  the  narrative.  When  he  was  about  to  be  or- 
dain ed,  he  must  of  course  be  examined,  according  to  the  Form 
of  Government,  in  regard  to  his  literary  and  scientific  attain- 
ments ;  and  especially  his  knowledge  of  the  Greek  and  He- 
brew languages.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  agreeable  to 
the  young  men  of  the  Seminary,  who  exulted  in  the  prowess 
of  their  young  leader  and  wanted  to  see  him  fairly  ti-ied ;  not 
doubting:  for  a  moment  that  the  event  would  shed  'eclat  on  the 
reputation  of  their  teacher,  and  in  spite  of  his  excessive  mod- 
esty and  the  sensitiveness  of  a  genius  which  "  blushed  so  to  be 
admired,"  would  make  him  as  widely  famous  they  knew  as  he 
deserved  to  be.  There  was  doubtless  mixed  with  this  feeling; 
a  half-malicious  and  half-mirthful  pleasure,  such  as  from  the 


470  JOSEPH    JOHN    GURNEY.  [1840. 

beoriimmer  of  the  world  has  animated  the  breasts  of  students 
under  similar  circumstances.  The  teacher  was  to  be  taught ! 
The  Hebraist  was  to  be  quizzed  in  Hebrew  !  There  was  the 
flavour  of  a  jest  here  that  could  not  be  resisted.  The  tidings 
ran  everywhere  that  Mr.  Alexander  was  to  be  examined  at 
such  and  such  a  time  in  the  ancient  tongues. 


'o 


"  This  excited  great  amusement  among  the  students,  and  we  attended 
in  order  to  see  one  who  had  puzzled  so  many  of  us  hy  bis  own  exam- 
inations himself  questioned  and  examined,  and  made  to  suffer  some  of 
the  misery  which  he  had  so  often  occasioned  us.  We  thought  of  the 
old  story  of  '  The  engineer  hoist  by  his  own  petard.'  *  However,  we  did 
not  anticipate  any  '  fizzle,'  such  as  we  had  often  seen  in  the  class-room  ; 
on  the  contrary,  we  had  entire  faith  in  the  all-sufficiency  of  our  young 
Professor,  and  entertained  rather  a  feeling  of  wonder  at  the  presump- 
tion of  men  who  undertook  such  a  work  as  his  examination.  The 
service  indeed  was  one  of  much  difficulty  to  the  Presbytery ;  for  very 
few  of  the  members  cared  to  examine  the  candidate,  especially  on  He- 
brew, of  which  they  probably  never  knew  a  great  deal  and  had  forgot- 
ten much  of  that.  However,  the  candidate  made  no  great  ostentation 
of  his  learning,  for  his  reply  to  several  of  the  questions  was,  very  much 
to  our  surprise,  '  I  do  not  know.'  "  t 

On  the  29th,  Joseph  John  Gurney  was  in  Princeton,  and 
attracted  much  attention  by  his  noble  presence.  He  preached 
twice  in  Quaker  meeting.  The  elder  brother  describes  him,  in 
his  journal,  as  a  large,  portly,  heavy-looking,  red  and  white 
Englishman.     He  made  the  impression  of  a  strong  intellect 

*  "  For  'tis  sport  to  have  the  engineer 
Hoist  with  his  own  petard." 
f  He  gave  the  same  answer  to  a  single  question  at  his  licensure,  unless  my 
informant's  memory  is  at  fault.  Dr.  A.  A.  Rice,  of  Wyoming,  Kentucky,  was 
present  when  Mr.  Alexander  was  examined  before  the  Presbytery  of  New 
Brunswick,  as  he  thinks,  for  licensure.  "I  remember,"  he  says,  "nothing 
of  his  examination  but  one  question  and  its  answer.  It  was  during  the  exam- 
ination upon  his  literay  course.  The  question  was  put  to  him,  '  What  is  taste  ? ' 
and  his  answer  was  very  prompt,  '  I  don't  know.'  You  may  imagine  my  as- 
tonishment at  this  answer ;  for  I  thought  that  if  there  ever  was  a  man  who  knew 
everything,  it  was  Addison  Alexander." 


Mi.  80.1  LITTLE    GEORGE.  471 

and  an  accomplished  man.  There  was  great  charm  ahout  his 
manner  when  he  was  a  little  excited.  His  devout  love  for  the 
Saviour  and  the  Bible  was  obvious. 

On  the  9th,  Thursday,  the  important  news  came  by  letter 
from  Philadelphia,  that  Judge  Gibson  had  declared  for  the  Old 
School  on  every  point.  "  Laus  Deo  !  "  writes  Professor  J.  W. 
Alexander  in  his  Every -Day  Book.  "  Judge  Gibson's  opinion 
gives  the  Old  School  everything  which  they  can  desire.  "  Laus 
Deo  per  Christum !  Sit  nobis  gratia  ut  simus  ab  omnibus  super- 
bise  malitiseque  remoti !  " 

How  faint  are  the  echoes  now  of  the  din  and  turmoil  of 
that  day !  The  matters  which  interest  us  of  the  year  1868, 
will  presently  fade  out  of  memory  as  did  those  of  1839.  The 
waves  of  time  wash  everything  to  oblivion. 

The  house  of  the  elder  brother  was  now  asrain  thrown  into 
mourning,  and  this  time  the  anguish  was  for  the  first-born. 
Little  George  was  born  in  1831,  and  was  therefore  eight  years 
old  when  he  died.  He  had  met  with  an  accident  in  his  infancy, 
and  had  long  been  a  blind  and  helpless  invalid.  He  had  an 
astonishing  memory,  and  a  marvellous  genius  for  music ;  though 
his  other  faculties  were  not  equal  to  those  of  other  children  of 
the  same  age.  George  was  a  radiant  little  fellow;  always 
full  of  joy  and  sunshine.  He  was,  even  above  most  other  chil- 
dren, devoted  to  his  uncle  Addison,  and  would  scream  with 
delight  when  he  heard  his  foot  upon  the  first  step  of  the  outer 
porch.  His  uncle  was  never  happier  than  when  he  was  at  his 
side  singing  to  him  and  telling  him  stoi-ies.  "  He  was,"  says  his 
father,  "  a  very  small  and  feeble  child  at  his  birth,  but  after- 
wards improved  so  much  as  to  be  very  lovely.  But  before  he 
reached  the  age  of  two  years,  he  was  seized  with  hydrocepha- 
lus, and  his  surviving  it  seemed  all  but  miraculous.  From 
that  time,  his  head  began  to  enlarge,  and  this  disproportion 
continued  more  or  less,  as  long  as  he  lived ;  so  that  for  one  or 
two  years  he  was  always  in  a  lying  posture."  Within  the  last 
few  years,  he  had  improved  greatly  in  health,  and  with  a  slight 
exception  was  never  better  than  the  year  before  his  death  oc- 
curred.    The  event  shed  grief  into  the  hearts  of  all  his  kins- 


472  DR.  JACOBUS.  [1840. 

folk,  and  every  accustomed  scene  was  for  a  time  enveloped  in 
gloom.  This  affliction  was,  without  doubt,  deeply  and  tenderly 
felt  by  Mr.  Alexander ;  for  he  unfeignedly  loved  the  little  boy. 

Mr.  Alexander  was  now  thirty  years  old,  and  his  mind  and 
character  were  by  this  time  stamped  with  the  impress  which 
they  bore  through  life.  There  are  abundant  accounts  of  the 
impression  which  he  himself  made  on  his  pupils. 

The  recollections  of  one  who  is  himself  a  professor  and  a 
commentator  will  be  read  with  pleasure.  Says  one  of  his 
favourite  and  most  admired  students: 

"He  was  thirty  years  of  age,  when,  after  I  had  been  his  pupil  during 
the  Seminary  course  of  three  years,  I  was  brought  into  a  closer  associa- 
tion with  him  as  an  assistant  for  introducing  the  Junior  class  to  the 
Hebrew  language." 


*ev 


The  writer  noticed  the  resemblance  to  Bonaparte.  He 
looked  and  felt  his  power,  but  Avas  modest,  shy,  and  affection- 
ate. 

(i  With  a  Napoleonic  face  and  form,  he  bore  himself  like  a  man  con- 
scions  of  power ;  yet  he  was  shrinking  as  a  child  from  publicity.  He 
was  notoriously  shy  of  social  gatherings,  yet  he  loved  to  play  with 
children,  and  spent  much  time  in  ingenious  efforts  to  amuse  and  instruct 
them.  These  were  his  favourite  recreations.  It  was  comparatively  sel- 
dom that  he  was  seen  in  the  streets  of  Princeton.  All  his  living  savoured 
of  study ;  and  this  was  his  element,  in  which  like  a  leviathan  he  dis- 
ported." 

The  testimony  of  this  writer  to  Mr.  Alexander's  abilities  as 
a  learned  commentator  is  just  as  clear  and  emphatic.  He  was 
now  scattering  leaves  of  his  Isaiah  over  the  Repertory,  and  by 
this  and  other  means  drawing  to  him  minds  like  those  of 
Kordheimer,  the  philosophic  Hebrew  grammarian.  The  fact 
that  this  able  man  received  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Alexander's 
suggestions  while  adding  finish  to  his  work  is  not  generallo 
known.     On  these  points  Dr.  Jacobus  writes  : 

"  The  great  attainments  which  he  was  known  to  have  made  in  Ori- 


Mi.  30. j  POWER    OVER   THE    CLASS.  473 

ental  and  European  languages  and  his  enthusiasm  in  Biblical  learning, 
gave  liim  a  well-deserved  fame  at  home  and  abroad,  even  before  ho 
bad  issued  any  of  bis  commentaries.  He  attracted  to  himself  tbat  sin- 
gular scholar,  Nordbeimer,  who  brought  out  his  Hebrew  Grammar  un- 
der bis  eye,  while  lecturing  at  the  same  time  to  a  select  class  of  students 
at  tbe  Seminary.  It  was  known  that  be  was  at  work  upon  his  Isaiah, 
and  from  the  morsels  of  it  dispensed  to  the  students  in  tbe  lecture- 
room,  as  well  as  from  the  bints  and  foretastes  of  it  given  through  tbe 
Princeton  Keview,  it  was  awaited  with  high  interest.  Other  articles 
from  his  pen  evinced  his  fertility  of  mind  and  bis  rare  genius  for  grasp- 
ing great  points  of  controversy  in  various  fields,  and  dealing  with  them 
in  masterly  style." 

The  writer  adds  that 

"  His  imagination  was  glowing  but  chaste,  and  bis  logical  acumen 
singularly  keen  and  effective." 

He  was  also  a  good  judge  of  human  hearts. 

"  ne  bad  an  intuitive  insight  into  character,  and  very  promptly 
weighed  and  measured  the  incoming  classes,  man  by  man.  Though 
habitually  reticent  in  his  intercourse  with  the  students,  and  evidently 
not  encouraging  any  familiarity,  he  was  most  genial  in  bis  temper  and 
most  agreeable  as  a  guest  away  from  his  books,  or  as  a  friend  in  his  own 
study." 

Over  the  class  he  reigned  as  king. 

"  His  power  with  the  students  was  that  which  belonged  to  his  lord- 
ship in  the  domain  of  truth.  His  whole  aspect  and  air  in  the  class- 
room commanded  respect.  They  showed  he  demanded  it,  and  could 
enforce  it.  Often  a  few  sharp  words  would  thoroughly  dissect  the  folly 
or  stupidity  of  a  blunderer ;  or  would  lay  bare  the  shallow  imperti- 
nence of  a  questioner ;  until  of  the  rest  no  man  durst  venture  in  that 
direction  unless  well  fortified." 

The  testimony  of  Dr.  Jacobus  as  to  his  traits  of  person 
and  character  need  not  be  continued  here,  for  it  does  not  vary 
from  the  statements  of  others  which  are  spread  before  the 
reader  in  this  volume. 


474  FIRST   THOUGHTS    OF    ISAIAH.  [1840. 

The  following  letter  broaches  the  scheme  of  his  Isaiah  to 
one  whom  he  often  consulted  on  such  points.  Like  Sir  Walter 
Scott,  he  says,  he  needs  the  stimulus  of  a  pursuing  press : 

"Peinceton,  Jan.  8,  1839. 
"  My  Deab  Sib  : 

"  The  persuasions  of  some  friends  and  the  assent  of  others  have 
brought  me  to  believe  that  I  might  do  some  service  by  putting  forth  a 
small  work  on  Isaiah.  The  state  of  the  case  is  as  follows :  I  have  a 
critical  commentary  written  out  for  the  press  on  the  first  six  chap- 
ters and  a  part  of  the  seventh.  I  have  condensed  notes  (the  fruit  of 
much  laborious  study)  on  fifty  chapters.  The  latter  are  so  written  that 
they  might,  with  little  change,  be  published  as  a  popular  commentary. 
They  were,  in  fact,  prepared  with  that  intention.  If  I  conclude  to 
publish,  I  shall  begin  to  print  at  once,  for  a  double  reason  :  1st,  Because 
I  cannot  write  steadily  without  Walter  Scott's  favourite  stimulus,  a  pur- 
suing press.  2d,  Because  I  should  wish  to  announce  the  work  at  once 
as  in  the  press.  This  method  I  could,  of  course,  pursue  with  ease;  as 
I  should  only  have  to  abridge  and  transcribe ;  till  the  middle  of  the 
seventh  chapter.  Your  judgment  as  to  the  whole  matter  will  be  wel- 
come and  a  great  assistance." 

Here  is  another  letter  to  the  same  person,  and  on  the  same 
subject : 

"  Peincetox,  January  8th,  1839. 
"  Sie  : 

"  You  will  consider  this  letter  as  addressed  to  you  in  your  official 
capacity,  as  Charge  d'affaires  at  Philadelphia,  and  as  such  give  an- 
swers to  the  following  queries  :  1.  Is  there  any  present  demand  fur  a 
popular  book  on  Isaiah?  2.  Is  Barnes's  book  forthcoming?  3.  Ought 
the  text  to  accompany  the  notes  in  such  a  book  ;  and  if  so,  ought  it  to 
be  given  verse  by  verse,  or  in  slabs,  d  la  Hodge,  or  at  the  top  of  .the 
page  d  la  Barnes  and  Bush?  4.  Ought  practical  remarks  to  be  incorpo- 
rated with  the  explanations,  or  collected  at  the  end  of  chapters  d  la 
Hodge  on  Romans?  5.  Should  any  Hebrew  or  other  foreign  words  be 
introduced  into  the  text?  5^.  Is  duodecimo  the  best  form  for  the  book 
in  question  ?  6.  Should  it  be  printed  in  Philadelphia,  Princeton,  or 
Boston  ?  7.  What  publisher  would  undertake  it  on  reasonable  terms  ? 
A  speedy  answer  is  requested.     I  am,  sir,  with  sentiments,  &c.  &c. 

"  Your  most  humble,  &c.  &c. 

"J.  A.  Alexandee." 


Mi.  29.]  ISAIAH.  475 

Here  is  still  another  of  these  early  disclosures  of  his  pur- 
pose : 

To  the  same. 


"Peinceton,  Jan.  14,  1839. 
"My  Deae  Sie: 

"  The  friendly  interest  yon  have  taken  in  my  project  induces  me  to 
lay  the  case  before  yon  still  more  fully.  In  studying  Isaiah  with  a 
view  to  publication,  I  have  been  compelled  to  keep  my  eyes  on  two 
distinct  classes  of  readers — those  who  can  read  the  English  version 
only,  and  those  who  can  read  the  original  along  with  it.  In  considering 
how  I  might  most  effectually  benefit  both  classes,  I  have  entertained 
successively  a  number  of  different  plans  ;  which,  however,  at  the  present 
juncture,  reduce  themselves  to  two  ;  the  alternative  being  this :  Shall 
I  write  a  popular  note-book  on  the  English  version,  d  la  Barnes,  and  on 
this  foundation  afterwards  construct  a  critical  commentary  for  the 
learned  reader?  Or  shall  I  write  a  critical  commentary  ;  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  the  Hebrew  scholar,  but  legible  and  intelligible  to  all  educated 
persons  ;  leaving  the  expediency  of  subsequent  abridgment  for  the  use 
of  Sunday-schools  to  be  determined  by  the  current  of  events?  After 
some  vacillation  I  have  come  to  this  conclusion ;  inasmuch  as  the 
production  of  a  popular  book  would  contribute  little  to  the  making  of 
a  learned  one,  whereas  the  latter  would  afford  all  the  materials  of  the 
former ;  as  there  is  little  demand  for  anything  at  all  on  Isaiah  just  at  pres- 
ent, and  that  which  exists  is  chiefly  among  clergymen  and  biblical  stu- 
dents ;  as  the  indirect  influence  of  a  critical  work  upon  the  unlearned 
public  would  be  greater  than  that  of  a  popular  work  on  the  more  learned 
public;  as  those  who  know  me  would  expect  something  critical;  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  a  book  which  should  be  critical,  without  being 
pedantic,  would  do  me  more  credit  and  the  world  more  good  (in  the 
end,  if  not  immediately)  than  anything  else  I  could  bring  before  it.  In 
this  conclusion,  right  or  wrong,  I  am  confirmed  by  the  deliberative 
judgment  of  my  best  advisers  ;  and  have  now  the  honour  to  announce, 
that  I  propose  to  begin  the  loading  of  my  great  gun  as  soon  as  I  can 
find  a  man  to  fire  it  off. 

"  This  is  of  course  a  very  different  affair  from  that  Avhich  I  first 
mentioned,  and  which  you  proposed  to  Perkins.  If  you  are  still  dis- 
posed to  help  me  through  the  agonies  of  publication,  you  are  fully  au- 
thorized to  state  the  case  to  any  publisher  you  choose.  The  maximum 
extent  of  the  book  will  be  two  volumes,  like  Stuart  on  Romans  (say 


476  HEBREW  TEXT.  [1839. 

1,200  pp.  8vo).  It  will  have  to  be  printed  at  New  Haven  for  the  sake 
of  the  unknown  tongues,  and  very  much  in  the  style  of  Nordheimer's 
Hebrew  Grammar,  but  on  better  paper. 

"In  addition  to  the  reasons  given  over  the  leaf,  I  am  more  and 
more  convinced  that  at  least  two  thirds  of  the  exposition  requisite  to 
make  Isaiah  intelligible,  must  consist  of  an  analysis*  and  retranslation  ; 
both  of  which  require  space,  and  the  latter  justification  too.  There  are 
numerous  passages  which  no  sagacity  or  strength  of  intellect  could 
ever  understand  aright  with  an  exclusive  use  of  tbe  English  version." 

The  letter  which  follows,  of  the  24th,  enters  more  fully 
into  the  same  subject.  He  will  not  give  the  Hebrew  text,  ex- 
cept to  avoid  circumlocution.  He  will  imitate  the  page  of 
Stuart's  Romans.  He  praises  the  printing  of  Nordheimer's 
books.  He  wishes  to  bring  out  his  own  work  under  the  eye  of 
Mr.  Turner,  and  compliments  his  taste  and  judgment.  He 
speaks  of  some  picture-books  and  a  volume  of  the  Princeton 
Review  which  he  desires  bound.  He  begs  for  an  American 
Latin-Greek  grammar.  He  winds  up  with  a  sincere  expres- 
sion of  thanks. 

"Ppjxcetox,  January  24,  1839. 
"My  Dear  Sie: 

"  I  have  no  idea  of  giving  the  Hebrew  text,  but  merely  intend  to 
iusert  the  Hebrew  word,  which  is  the  subject  of  remark,  where  it  is 
necessary  in  order  to  avoid  awkward  circumlocution.  E.  g.  in  com- 
menting on  chapter  vii.  14,  I  should  introduce  the  word  rrcbs  instead 
of  saying  'the  word  translated  virgin."  It  is  impossible  to  say  with 
certainty  how  much  Hebrew  there  would  be  ;  but  I  think  half  a  dozen 
words  per  page  would  be  a  large  average.  As  to  style,  Stuart's  Ro- 
mans might  be  taken  as  a  sampie ;  especially  those  pages  on  which  He- 
brew occurs.  I  have  insuperable  objections,  however,  to  its  being 
printed  there.  Besides,  Andover  is  no  longer  preeminent  in  that  way. 
Nordheimer's  books,  and  especially  his  Chrestomathy,  are  the  best  speci- 
mens of  Hebrew  printing  in  America.  As  to  Zeever's  type,  it  looks  well 
en  masse,  but  would  not  match  with  Roman  type  of  the  proper  size ;  and 
his  own  book  is,  in  some  parts  at  least,  incorrect.     "What  I  should  de- 

*  This  was  a  favourite  but  singular  opinion  of  his  as  to  the  sacred  books 
in  general. 


^Ex.29.]  PRINCETON.  ±1 1 

cidedly  prefer  would  be  to  print  it  in  New-York ;  under  the  eye  of  Nord- 
heimer  and  Turner ;  the  latter  of  whom  has  more  typographical  taste 
and  judgment  than  any  man  in*  this  country,  out  of  Boston.  I  have 
written  to  them  to  know  whether,  in  their  opinion,  the  book  could  be 
well  executed  in  New-York.  This  will  cause  some  delay.  As  to  terms, 
I  do  not  mean  to  sell  the  copyright,  but  the  edition.  Further  than  this 
I  can  as  yet  say  nothing. 

"  The  picture-hooks  are  intended  for  a  parlour  table,  and  may  be 
bound  kuAcSj  Ka-yaSws  at  your  discretion ;  the  '  Princeton  Keview,'  &c. 
half  bound  in  calf,  with  comely  backs,  also  at  your  discretion. 

"  I  sent  you  a  note  by  Mr.  Murray,  bespeaking  your  kind  offices  in 
getting  me  two  copies  of  the  same  edition  of  any  Latin-Greek  gram- 
mar ever  published  in  America.  I  have  heard  of  several,  but  no  two 
alike.  If  you  should  light  upon  such  articles,  you  will  much  oblige  me 
by  impressing  Mr.  Baird  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 
"  With  many  thanks  for  your  assistance, 

"  Yours  very  truly, 

"  Jos.  Addison  Alexander." 

The  Rev.  Asahel  Nettleton,  I  find,  was  in  Princeton  at  this 
time ;  having  previously  visited  Elizabethtown.  He  was  a 
great  friend  of  Mr.  James  Alexander,  who  was  always  power- 
fully struck  with  his  shrewd  and  solemn  genius,  his  peculiarity, 
and  his  piety.  His  criticisms  on  certain  passages  of  Scripture 
were  eminently  profound  and  pungent ;  and  his  grave,  col- 
loquial eloquence  was  based  on  the  most  sagacious  expe- 
rience and  common  sense.  One  evening,  he  preached  to  a 
crowded  house  upon  the  text :  "  In  that  day  I  will  pour  on  the 
house  of  David,"  &c.  It  was  a  sermon  of  rare  excellence  and 
force,  and  singularly  Scriptural.  The  day  had  invited  to  out- 
of-door  recreation.  Grass  was  coming  up  in  tufts  along  the 
unfrequented  paths.  The  robin  and  the  blue-bird  were  hailed 
as  glad  messengers.  The  conversation  of  the  brothers  ran 
much  upon  the  use  of  the  press.  At  one  time,  "  Addison  " 
quotes  his  father,  as  strongly  and  repeatedly  giving  it  as  his 
judgment,  that  "no  one  ought  needlessly  to  write  very  much 
below  his  own  abilities."  This  the  younger  brother  seems  to 
have  urged  as  an  argument  with  the  elder  why  he  should  try 
his  hand  upon  a  higher  class  of  books  than  he  had  yet  essayed. 


478  PREACHING.  [1839. 

The  view  presented  made  a  deep  impression  on  him ;  but  he 
never  did  himself  anything  like  full  justice  even  in  his  best 
books.  It  required  the  revelations  of  his  posthumous  corre- 
spondence to  acquaint  the  world  with  the  fact  of  his  exten- 
sive learning  in  nearly  every  department  of  ancient  and  mod- 
ern belles  lettrcs,  and  his  affection  for  the  severer  sciences. 
Much  yet  remains  untold ;  but  his  copious  ephemerides  and 
journals  attest  his  extraordinary  industry  and  high  attain- 
ments in  various  fields  hardly  touched  upon  in  his  familiar  let- 
ters. Above  all  they  show  with  what  fluency  and  almost 
classic  beauty  he  could  write  in  Latin,  and  how  easily  his 
thoughts  flowed  into  voluble  French. 

Sunday  night,  Sept.  29,  the  Princeton  congregation  had 
the  satisfaction  of  listening  to  Mr.  Alexander;  a  privilege 
which  they  always  prized.  He  was  now  in  the  flood-tide  of 
animal  health ;  and  he  had  only  to  leave  the  chapel  and  the 
audience  of  students,  to  ensure  an  overcrowded  house.  He 
loved  a  large  promiscuous  assembly ;  where  he  had  a  wide  field 
of  human  experience  to  appeal  to,  and  whei'e  he  met  with  the 
minimum  of  local  peculiarity  ;  but  even  in  a  village  he  exerted 
great  power  over  masses  of  men  and  women.  He  spoke  best, 
undoubtedly,  before  a  body  of  educated  hearers;  where,  how- 
ever, there  was  no  predominance  of  any  one  element,  such  as 
preachers  or  theological  classes. 

There  is  a  throng  of  testimonies  as  to  Mr.  Alexander's  ap- 
pearance and  traits  of  mind  and  character  in  those  days.  I 
am  glad  to  be  able  to  present  here  the  recollections  of  the 
Rev.  T.  V.  Moore,  D.D.  of  Richmond,  Va.  his  pupil  and  friend : 

"I  entered  Princeton  Seminary  in  the  fall  of  1839,  when  the  faculty 
consisted  of  Drs.  A.  Alexander,  Miller,  Hodge,  and  J.  A.  Alexander. 
My  first  sight  of  the  latter  was  in  the  oratory,  where  the  four  profes- 
sors were  seated  in  a  row  ;  and  having  never  seen  any  of  them  before, 
I  studied  their  faces  with  curious  interest.  The  head  and  face  of  Profes- 
sor Addison  Alexander  struck  me  as  very  much  like  Xapoleon's  in  some 
respects — in  its  massive  breadth,  in  a  suggestion  of  prodigious  strength 
in  reserve,  and  a  certain  indication  of  fiery  energy  ready  to  blaze  out  at 


.Et.30.]  AS   A   TEACHER.  479 

a  moment's  notice.  He  was  then  very  recluse  in  his  habits  and  reserved 
in  his  manners ;  and  was  regarded  by  the  students  generally  as  a  prodigy 
of  learning,  and  possessing  a  power  of  sarcasm  that  it  was  very  dangerous 
to  provoke  :  and  hence  was  held  in  more  admiration  and  fear  than  love. 
It  was  with  these  feelings  that  I  looked  upon  his  face,  and  perhaps  they 
gave  it  that  Napoleonic  impression  which  it  had  in  my  eyes,  as  I  am 
not  aware  that  any  one  else  was  struck  with  the  likeness.*  My  first 
relations  to  him  as  a  pupil,  were  in  Hebrew  ;  and  as  time  wore  on,  I  was 
brought  into  closer  personal  relations  to  him  :  and  although  I  never 
could  wholly  divest  myself  of  a  certain  fear  in  my  intercourse  with 
him,  I  found  him  much  more  accessible  and  kind  than  I  expected. 

"  As  a  teacher  ho  was  remarkable  for  his  minute  accuracy  and 
thoroughness.  He  never  was  satisfied  with  a  recitation  that  did  not 
go  to  the  bottom  of  the  matter  in  question;  and  although  he  sometimes 
flashed  out  into  something  like  impatience,  yet  it  was  always  when  it 
seemed  to  him  that  the  student  was  wilfully  negligent.  He  was  often 
wonderfully  patient  with  mere  dulness,  but  whenever  anything  like 
laziness  was  exhibited,  and  especially  when  self-conceit  cropped  out, 
they  were  sure  to  elicit  a  flash  of  sarcasm  that  was  not  soon  forgotten. 
His  power  of  repartee  was  so  wonderfrl  that  every  student  stood  in 
awe  of  it,  and  many  a  good  Hebraist  owes  more  to  his  dread  of  it 
than  he  is  aware. 

"  On  one  occasion,  after  a  very  lame  recitation  in  Genesis,  which 
tried  his  patience  no  little,  he  abruptly  brought  it  to  a  close,  and  an- 
nounced that  he  would  give  a  lesson  for  the  next  day  adapted  to  the 
capacities  of  the  class,  and  they  would  therefore  take  tbe  next  verse  ! 
The  usual  lesson  being  from  twelve  to  twenty  verses,  the  rebuke  was 
keenly  felt,  and  he  bad  no  more  such  recitations.  Sometimes  he  used 
his  satire  severely,  though  I  do  not  think  unjustly.  On  one  oc- 
casion a  young  gentleman  gave  a  discourse  in  the  oratory  on  the 
destruction  of  Sodom,  that  was  very  pretentious;  and  Dr.  A.  being  in 
tbe  chair,  thought  it  needful  to  perforate  his  mental  cuticle  somewhat, 
and  remarked  when  it  came  his  turn  to  criticise,  that  Mr.  D.'s  disconrse 
consisted  of  two  parts ;  that  which  everybody  knew,  and  that  which 
nobody  knew;  and  that  he  did  not  think  that  under  either  head  Mr. 
D.  had  added  to  the  stock  of  our  knowledge." 

The  remarks  of  so  good  a  judge,  as  to  the  effects  produced 

*  The  likeness  was  remarked  by  many  others. 


480  HIS    AUDIENCE    MOVED.  [1839. 

by  his  preaching  at  this  time,  will  be  accepted  as  evidence  of 
positions  I  have  ventured  to  take  on  other  authority  : 

"His  powers  as  a  preacher  were  then  in  full  development,  and 
many  of  the  striking  sermons  published  in  the  volumes  issued  since  his 
death  were  prepared  and  preached  then,  besides  others  which  I  wish 
could  also  be  put  in  print.  He  had  a  wondrous  fascination  to  me  as  a 
preacher  at  that  time,  and  had  a  nameless  power  of  delivery  which  he 
lost  in  later  years,  as  I  knew  from  hearing  the  same  sermon  in  my  own 
church  which  I  heard  in  the  Seminary  (preached  at  my  request),  and 
yet  with  a  diminution  in  the  impressive  power  which  I  could  not  refer 
entirely  to  any  change  in  myself.  The  impression  one  felt  as  soon  as 
he  commenced  the  exercises  was  that  of  immense  mental  power  coupled 
with  an  intense  emotive  nature,  which  grasped  you  as  if  with  the  hand 
of  a  giant,  and  would  not  allow  you  to  escape.  He  usually  laid  the 
Bible  aside  from  the  cushion,  laid  his  manuscript  on  the  cushion,  and 
read  with  but  little  motion  of  any  kind,  or  even  raising  his  eyes  from 
the  paper.  And  yet  in  spite  of  these  disadvantages  he  seemed  to  rivet 
the  attention  of  the  audience  by  a  spell  which  only  broke  when  he 
ceased  to  speak,  and  the  long  pent-up  feeling  gave  way  in  the  rustling 
noise  of  a  crowd  seeking  relief  from  long  and  breathless  stillness  by 
changing  their  position.  There  was  a  strange  charm  in  his  voice  then, 
a  wild,  wailing  melody  when  he  touched  on  the  more  solemn  thoughts 
that  he  marshalled  with  such  matchless  elegance  which  had  an  Eolian 
sweetness,  and  which  I  can  feel  thrilling  in  my  memory  now  after  an 
interval  of  nearly  thirty  years.  And  there  were  times  when  he  would 
bring  out  suddenly  some  of  tliose  grand  or  terrible  conceptions  which  are 
scattered  through  his  sermons,  with  an  effect  on  my  mind  precisely 
like  a  flash  of  lightning.  I  felt  actually  blinded  for  an  instant  by  the 
blaze,  and  would  look  unconsciously  around  to  see  where  the  lightning 
had  struck.  I  have  never  had  any  speaker  to  produce  these  stunning, 
dizzy,  and  burning  impressions  on  me  as  did  Dr.  A.  at  that  time.  It 
always  has  seemed  to  me  that  he  had  then  a  concentrated  energy  of 
emotive  power  which  he  gradually  lost ;  and  which  was  expended 
in  those  electric  discharges  from  the  pulpjt,  such  as  I  never  felt  from 
any  other  man,  and  did  not  feel  from  him  nearer  the  close  of  his  life.  I 
know  a  part  of  this  was  owing  to  the  fresh  enthusiasm  of  my  own  nature, 
but  I  also  think  that  another  and  larger  part  of  it  was  owing  to  the 
same  fact  in  his  nature.  He  was  then  in  the  peerless  maturity  of  his 
powers  ;  with  all  the  burning  energy  of  youth,  and  all  the  ripe  develop- 
ment of  later  years." 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Libraries 


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